…They cried to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to help them reclaim their market
Onitsha Beer Market have staged a peaceful protest, calling on the Anambra State Government to come to their aid and save their only source of livelihood.
Worried by what they tagged intimidation and harassment by an individual who was allegedly said to have caused untold hardship to them, the traders stormed the Light House Awka, chanting various songs and displaying placards with different inscriptions portraying their grievances.
Speaking on behalf of the traders, Lord Uche lamented that the said individual locked the entrance gate into the market, aside increasing and initiating various levies which they said he forced them to be paying as anyone who dares to challenge him would be arrested and detained.
According to the protesters, the said man did not stop with the traders, but extended the levy to wheel barrow pushers and transporters conveying their goods into the market
The protesting traders alleged that the individual in question, whom they said hails from Ihioma, in Imo State bragged that nobody has the right to stop him, not even the government.
They cried to Governor Chukwuma Soludo to help them reclaim their market, which they said was given to them with Certificate of Ownership by the Anambra State Government before they constructed the buildings from the scratch.
Receiving the group on behalf of the state government, the Chief Protocol to the Governor, Professor Frank-Collins Okafor praised them for their peaceful conduct and assured them that Soludo does not accommodate breakdown of law and order, and will look into the matter with a view to finding lasting solution.
Angel Network News (ANN) reports that
the group earlier took their protest to the State Criminal Investigation Department and Anambra State Police Command Headquarters at Amawbia, where they were received by Assistant Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations, Mr Harrison Oruruo, who also received their petition and assured them of best approach to resolve the issue.
