Emma Elekwa
There was heavy deployment of security personnel at the Onitsha Main Market and other strategic locations within the commercial city of Anambra on Tuesday.
An armoured personnel carrier (APC) was sighted standing at the entrance gate of the market, while armed police men milled around every part of the market.
The deployment followed Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directive on closure of the market for one week over traders compliance with Monday sit-at-home.
According to Command spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, the police personnel in collaboration with other security agencies was to maintain law and order and prevent any breach of public peace.
He assured the public that the situation in Onitsha and across the State remains calm and under control, stressing that continuous monitoring was ongoing to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
Meanwhile, there was heavy presence of traders around the market chanting songs in solidarity of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The pro-Biafran group had insisted that traders would resume trading on Tuesday, saying the governor has no rights to shut down the market.
The spokesperson, Emma Powerful in a statement warned that there would be clash if Soludo attempted to stop traders.
He challenged the governor go for the release of IPOB leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu out if he is desperate to see traders resume Monday trading.
