A trending social media video, on Tuesday, showed people believed to be traders at the Onitsha Main Market openly challenging Governor Chukwuma Soludo, chanting: “We stand with Nnamdi Kanu”, a day after the Anambra State Government ordered a one-week closure of the market.
The footage captured the traders singing and dancing in support of the jailed IPOB leader, appearing to defy the government just hours after security operatives enforced the shutdown.
Governor Soludo, on Monday, ordered the closure of the main market following traders’ continued observance of the Monday sit-at-home instruction issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu.
The governor described the action as a deliberate disruption of commerce and public order.
“The government cannot stand by while a few individuals undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy. This is plain economic sabotage,” Soludo said during an on-the-spot assessment of the market, accompanied by senior officials and security personnel.
He warned that failure to reopen the market after the one-week shutdown could extend the closure to a month.
“You either decide to trade here or go elsewhere. I am very serious about this,” he added.
Despite assurances of improved security and repeated appeals for traders to resume business, many shops remained closed on Monday, prompting the tough enforcement action.
Security around the market was reinforced with a joint task force comprising the police, army, and other agencies.