ONITSHA, Nigeria – Traders at the Oduigbo section of the Ochanja Central market in Onitsha, Anambra State, staged a protest on Friday, June 30, 2023, at the Onitsha South Local Government Area, LGA, Headquarters.
The traders allege that the council chairman, Mr. Emeka Orji, is conspiring with the chairman of Ochanja Central market, Mr. Bonaventure Muo, to evict them under the guise of building modern shops.
Led by their chairman, Mr. Chukwudi Eke, the protesters, some of whom are widows, carried placards with messages such as “Council chairman, Emeka Orji, what have we done to you?”, “Some of us are widows”, “We earn our living from Oduigbo market”, and “Gov. Soludo come to our rescue, they want to demolish the shops in the market to acquire more shops for themselves”.
Speaking to journalists, Mr. Eke stated that the market chairman and the council chairman gave the traders only two days to vacate the market.
He alleged that they threatened to use bulldozers to demolish over 300 shops in the market. “Eighty percent of the traders here are widows who earn their living from the Oduigbo market,” Eke added.
Mr. Eke further appealed to Anambra State Governor, Charles Soludo, to intervene in the matter. The traders believe that the Governor could empathize with their predicament and offer assistance.
The spokesperson for the widows, Mrs. Ifeoma Emeka, expressed anguish that the majority of the traders, who are widows, are being treated with disdain by the authorities.
When contacted by the News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, for comments, the council chairman, Mr. Orji, declined to comment.
The Ochanja market chairman, Mr. Muo, however, responded that he was acting based on instructions from the government.
This incident highlights the growing concern over the plight of small traders and widows in Anambra state, as they feel marginalized and under threat by local authorities.
The traders are now waiting to see if there will be any intervention or support from higher levels of government to protect their livelihoods.
