Traders at the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State resumed business on Monday after a one-week closure ordered by the state government.
The reopening followed a directive by Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, accompanied by heightened security and renewed warnings against compliance with what authorities described as illegal sit-at-home orders linked to the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Soludo had ordered the market shut after reports that some traders observed a Monday sit-at-home allegedly associated with the group. He warned that failure to comply with the reopening directive could lead to further closures.
According to reports from Channels Television, traders reopened their shops in line with the governor’s directive. A visit to the market showed activity resuming as early as 8:45 a.m., with traders displaying goods in key sections of the market, including Egerton, Ose Foodstuff Market and Young Park.
Commercial activity was also reported around Emeka Offor Plaza, Sokoto Road, Lagos Line and Marine areas, as customers gradually returned. “It is clear that the traders are complying with government directives to ignore the sit-at-home order,” the report added.
Earlier, the proscribed IPOB had announced a region-wide lockdown across the South-East, claiming it was in solidarity with Onitsha traders. ‘Calculated Falsehood’ Earlier, the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra announced a South-East–wide lockdown in support of Onitsha traders, urging businesses, schools, banks and transport operators to comply peacefully.
However, IPOB’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, dismissed the claim as fake and urged the public to ignore it, reiterating that the group has distanced itself from sit-at-home orders. Source: Leadership/Channels TV YouTube