Members of the Onitsha Beer Dealers Market Association have staged a peaceful protest, calling on Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, to intervene over alleged harassment, intimidation and extortion by one Ifeanyi Franklin Okeke, whom they accused of forcefully taking over the market.
Speaking during the protest at the market, the association’s leader, Chief Augustus Nnabuife, said the land on which the market, also known as Nwugo Beer Market, is situated was acquired from the Anambra State Government in 1988.
According to him, the traders were issued receipts and Certificates of Occupancy (C of O), following which they developed the market and moved into the premises in 1998 after it was commissioned by the then Military Administrator of Anambra State, Wing Commander Emmanuel Uwakwe Ukaegbu.
Nnabuife further stated that the Onitsha South Local Government Area subsequently issued allocation papers to individual shop owners in the market, adding that the traders had remained law-abiding and paid government taxes and levies over the years.
He alleged that the situation changed in August 2026 when Okeke, accompanied by his lawyer, entered the market and informed the traders that he had become the new owner after allegedly purchasing the property from the government.
Nnabuife alleged that Okeke subsequently began collecting a daily levy of N1,000 from each of the more than 1,000 shops in the market, allegedly with the assistance of armed security personnel.
He also alleged that the market’s name was changed from Nwugo Beer Market to Ihioma Beer Market, which he said was purportedly derived from Okeke’s village name.
According to him, the traders were also informed that they would henceforth pay a monthly security levy of N20,000 per shop, as against the N1,200 they previously paid.
Nnabuife further alleged that on Saturday, July 19, 2026, the traders arrived at the market to find the entire premises locked and armed men stationed around the facility. He claimed they were told that the market would remain closed until the traders agreed to pay the N20,000 monthly levy.
Some of the protesters said they had previously staged a peaceful demonstration at the Anambra State Government House in Awka and submitted a petition to the state government, urging authorities to intervene in the dispute.
They alleged that Okeke had been boasting that nothing would happen because he had connections within government at various levels, and appealed to Governor Soludo to investigate the matter and protect their businesses and livelihoods.
The traders also alleged that some of their members were previously invited by the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Awka, for questioning over the dispute.
According to them, after honouring the invitation, they were arrested, arraigned in court and subsequently spent about seven weeks in detention before being granted bail.
They maintained that their only offence was challenging the alleged takeover of the market, adding that the legal proceedings arising from the dispute are still ongoing.
The protesters appealed to the state government and relevant authorities to investigate the competing claims over ownership of the market, address the alleged harassment and extortion, and ensure that the matter is resolved through due process.
