There was heavy shooting in Onitsha, Anambra State, on Saturday, as traders, mostly widows under the aegis of Ajasa Market Traders, protested the forceful merger of two market groups in the area.
The group, led by its Leader, Mrs Ngozi Ezediniru; Chairman, Chief Chima Ohia, and Secretary, Emeka Mba, said the traders would not allow the merger initiated by the Chairman of Oseokwodu Market, Chief Ikechukwu Umeanozie, to stand without their consent.
They said they were not informed about the development until security agents stormed the market and started shooting indiscriminately, forcing people to scamper to safety.
The protesting traders carried placards with the inscriptions, “Chan Chanji leave our market alone, you can’t because of self-centeredness and money, merge us with Oseokwodu Market,” Governor Soludo and Commerce Commissioner should come to our rescue,” among others.
Ezediniru said, “Some of us sustained varying degrees of injuries and the gunmen told us that once it is 6pm every day, we must shut our market as it is now under Oseokwodu Market. We are independent traders and we close between 9pm to 10pm daily and open at about 6:30am daily. This is a residential market that is completely outside Oseokwodu Market. Because we don’t have anyone who will talk on our behalf, he (Umeanozie) came with this intimidation.”
“We can’t be intimidated by the antics of this chairman who is desperate to make quick money before leaving office as interim chairman of Oseokwodu Market. The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Obinna Ngonadi, is a no-nonsense man; he will call Umeanozie to order before he kills us with guns like he did this afternoon,” he said.
But reacting Umeanozie said, “It is Oseokwodu Market’s vigilance group that guards Ajasa Market and it is under Zone One of Oseokwodu Market.”
