Security Agencies Barricade Onitsha Main Market To Enforce Soludo’s Closure Order

The Onitsha Main Market has been barricaded by security agencies enforcing the one-week closure ordered by Anambra State governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, following traders’ defiance of the state government’s directive against the Monday sit-at-home order being declared by the outlawed IPOB.

On Tuesday morning, hundreds of security personnel were deployed across the market, with several security vehicles, including Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) and Hilux vans, used to block strategic access points.

LEADERSHIP recalls that Governor Soludo, during an on-site inspection of the sprawling market on Monday, ordered its closure after traders and market leaders failed to open for business, despite repeated government appeals to resume normal economic activities.

The governor warned that the closure could be extended if traders continued to flout the directive, adding that security agencies had been instructed to seal the market to ensure full compliance. He described the action as the latest—and perhaps most drastic—measure in a prolonged struggle to restore economic normalcy in the South-East.

The state government said the persistent Monday sit-at-home costs Anambra State about N8bn weekly and the wider South-East region approximately N19.6bn, while disrupting work, commerce, and other economic activities.

“The government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy. This is plain economic sabotage. We are not going to allow this.

“The closure is a protective measure for law-abiding citizens,” Soludo said, warning that failure to comply could see the market sealed for up to one month.

Security personnel prevented all movement into the market premises, while shops remained locked. Traders and residents who had come to do business were seen loitering around the area, observing the enforcement exercise.

A joint task force comprising police, military, and other security agencies was deployed, with barricades mounted around the market perimeter to ensure strict compliance.

Some traders were seen gathered in small groups at different locations, discussing and analysing the development. At some points, the area became tense as traders ran in different directions while security personnel moved around the premises to maintain order, leading to brief confrontations.

It was further gathered that the heavy security presence was also aimed at countering a counter-directive reportedly issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which had urged residents and traders to defy the closure and resume trading on Tuesday, describing the governor’s action as “disappointing and unacceptable.”