Mayhem In Onitsha Market As 50 Traders Injured,Count Losses Over Snatching Of Two Guns, N25m Snatched

Traders at the  Millennium Merchants and Importers Association market, near Main Market Onitsha, Anambra state, weekend counted their losses which they incurred  after the mayhem that broke out  on Thursday reports odogwuemekaodogwu.blogspot.com.

They hinted that they lost two pump-action guns and N25 million to thugs that came with Onitsha South Local Government Area Chairman, Lady Ann Chukwuneke, that caused the mayhem in the first place.

Demanding for the immediate impeachment of the council chairman, they reiterated that 50 people who sustained  various degrees of injuries should be compensated while over 20 shops allegedly destroyed would be repaired.

odogwuemekaodogwu.blogspot.com gathered that trouble reportedly started when the Onitsha South Local Government Area Chairman, lady Ann Chukwuneke reportedly stormed the market with over 100 youths to collect N50,000 per shop levy which the traders refused. 

Consequently, on trying to stop them by the traders, a free for-all-fight ensued resulting in over 50 sustaining various degrees of injuries.

 Among those reportedly injured included the Vice chairman of the market, Prince Peter Okoye that had a machete cut on his head, Obiora Otigba who had machete cut in his hand and John Okafor.

Reacting, the Anambra state Markets Amalgamation Traders Association, ASMATA, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo said that the council chairman has no right to storm the market and destroy the wares of the traders some of who have lost huge sums of money to hoodlums.

His words, “the Governor directed me to come and calm the traders and to reopen their shops that he is looking into the crisis”.

“I am happy the Governor is aware because he does not want crisis in the state”. 

The traders who carried placards some of which read thus, "the council chairman is not a good mother, we are disappointed in Iruka the council Chairman, Governor Obiano should remove her, We have lost huge sums of money to hoodlums and she should be impeached".

 

Earlier, the chairman of the market, Mr. Valentine Ezechukwu and former chairman, chief Obiora Nwankwo described the action of the chairman as uncalled for, adding that they had earlier discussed with the chairman on the way forward for the market and wondered why she stormed the market and had these destructions without proper notice adding, “we even gave out a taken to the council and today they stormed the market demanding N 50,000 per shop”.

Also the treasurer, Chief Nathan Anajiofor expressed dissatisfaction that the council chairman could agree to deal ruthlessly with the traders when they pay their normal storage fee to the council.

Three traders, Uche Okolie, John Achukwu, from Warri and one Joseph lost N 2.5 million, N360.000 and N 100.000 respectively to the hoodlums during the mayhem.

It would be recalled that the timely intervention of the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Benjamin Nwordu, saved the situation from escalating to other areas.