Security agencies maintained a strong presence at the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State on Tuesday as traders voiced mixed reactions to the continued closure of the commercial hub ordered by the state government.
Armed personnel drawn from the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and the Department of State Services were deployed to the market early in the day.
Entrances were barricaded, with officers positioned at strategic points to prevent traders from gaining access to their shops.
The closure has sparked frustration among many traders, some of whom said the timing was unfair.
They argued that several business owners had recently returned from major domestic and international markets after restocking for post-festive sales, only to be shut out of their shops.
Others warned that the action would worsen economic hardship, noting that many traders rely on daily income to meet basic needs.
However, not all reactions were negative. Some traders expressed support for Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s decision, saying obedience to a directive issued by the state government was preferable to complying with sit-at-home orders enforced by unidentified non-state actors.
A number of traders also appealed to the governor to sustain the same level of security in the coming days, assuring authorities of their readiness to resume business.
Explaining the heavy deployment, police spokesperson Tochukwu Ikenga said the security presence was aimed at maintaining law and order in line with the government’s directive.
He urged traders to cooperate fully, adding that security agencies would continue to ensure calm across Onitsha and the wider Anambra State.
Governor Soludo ordered the one-week closure of the Onitsha Main Market following an unscheduled inspection on Monday, during which it was observed that most shops remained shut in apparent compliance with the sit-at-home directive issued by non-state actors.
The state government has reiterated that Mondays are now designated as normal working days and warned that violations would attract tougher sanctions.
According to the Commissioner for Information, Law Mefoh, Anambra State loses an estimated N8 billion every Monday the Onitsha Main Market does not operate.
