Traders at the Onitsha Main Market on Monday reopened their shops, openly defying the sit at home directive linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, following firm warnings by the Anambra State Government and security agencies.
The reopening came after a one week shutdown of the market, which was earlier closed by the state government amid reports that some traders were complying with a Monday sit at home call attributed to IPOB. Governor Chukwuma Soludo had warned that failure to resume business could attract further sanctions, including prolonged closure of affected markets.
By early morning on Monday, commercial activities had returned to several sections of the market. Traders were seen opening shops and arranging goods across major areas such as Egerton, Ose Foodstuff Market, Young Park, Emeka Offor Plaza, Sokoto Road, Lagos Line and Marine axis, with customers gradually trooping in to patronise businesses.
A report by Channels Television confirmed the development, stating, “Traders of the Onitsha Main Market have reopened their shops in compliance with a directive by the Anambra State Governor, Chukwuma Soludo.” The report added that many traders were already on ground as early as 8.45am.
Observers at the market noted visible security presence, as traders appeared determined to resume normal activities despite earlier fears linked to threats by non state actors. The reopening was widely seen as a direct rejection of the sit at home call.
“It is clear that the traders are complying with government directives to ignore the sit at home order,” the Channels Television report stated.
Earlier, IPOB, through a statement credited to its spokesman, Emma Powerful, had called for a lockdown across the South East in solidarity with Onitsha traders, urging transporters, banks, schools and civil servants to observe the strike peacefully.
However, IPOB’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, dismissed the lockdown directive, describing it as “a fake” and “a calculated falsehood.” He urged members of the public to disregard the call, stressing that IPOB had repeatedly denounced sit at home actions in the region.
The Anambra State Police Command also reinforced the government’s position, warning residents against narratives pushed by non state actors on social media. In a statement issued on Sunday, the command said it had observed “a deliberate, recurring pattern of coordinated social media posts by some non state actors aimed at spreading fear, misinformation and bigotry among the public.”
The police noted that such actions were designed “to cause panic, undermine public confidence and disrupt the peace currently enjoyed in the state.” It added that intelligence led patrols and proactive security operations had been intensified to safeguard lives and property.
“Members of the public are advised to disregard unverified social media content being propagated by non state actors and to report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest police formation or through established emergency channels,” the statement said.
The state government also assured traders of adequate security, as economic activities fully resumed across Onitsha, reinforcing its stance that the era of forced shutdowns and economic intimidation would no longer be tolerated.
