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Barrister Aloy Ejimakor
Barrister Aloy Ejimakor has condemned the deployment of security agents, particularly soldiers, to quell the protest by traders against the Anambra State Government’s closure of Onitsha Market.
The Guardian reported that on Monday, Governor Chukwuma Soludo of Anambra State visited Onitsha Market, where he warned traders against obeying the Monday sit-at-home order that grounds economic activities in the state.
According to him, government will be forced to shut down the market for a month if the traders fail to comply with his directive.
He said, “This whole area, we are going to cordone it off in the first instance for just one week. If we come on Monday and it is locked, and no shop is open, we will lock it up for one month.
“Wherever you come from, Anambra is open to everybody. Everybody is welcome to trade in Anambra. If you must trade here, you must abide by the rules, and the rules are that markets are open from Mondays to Saturdays. If you are not prepared to open your shops from Monday to Saturday, then leave Anambra, go elsewhere.
“This market will be shut down for the remainder of this week. It will not be open on Monday through to Friday. It will open again on Monday."
Reacting, Aloy Ejimakor revealed that the Monday sit-at-home observed in states in the Southeast is evidence of how unhappy Igbo people are concerning the travails of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.
He said people will continue to observe the sit-at-home until Kanu, whom he represented in court, regains his freedom from incarceration.
Following Governor Soludo’s Monday declaration, traders stormed the streets of Anambra to protest against the closure of Onitsha Market. Videos on social media showed a crowd of protesters chanting, “Soludo, show me the law,” as they questioned the governor’s actions.
Another video showed security agents dispersing the protesters, who scampered for safety, only to regroup in other locations to continue their agitation.
Reacting, Ejimakor shared on X, “The deployment of security agents (particularly soldiers) to quell the peaceful #OnitshaMarketClosure protest is unconstitutional & should be reversed immediately. If not, it may result in loss of lives, which Ndigbo will never forgive. Igbos have paid enough in blood & sorrow.” (The Guardian)
