The Anambra State Police Command has clarified that the heavy security presence at the Onitsha Main Market is aimed at maintaining law and order following Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directive to shut down the market.
Governor Soludo ordered the closure on Monday after an on-the-spot assessment revealed that traders and market leaders failed to open for business, despite repeated appeals by the state government to end the Monday sit-at-home and resume normal commercial activities.
According to the state government, the continued sit-at-home costs Anambra State an estimated ₦8 billion every Monday, while the wider South-East region reportedly loses about ₦19.6 billion weekly, in addition to widespread disruption of work and economic life.
Reacting to the situation, Soludo warned that the government would not tolerate actions capable of undermining public order and economic stability.
“The government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy. This is plain economic sabotage. We are not going to allow it,” the governor said. He added that the closure was a protective measure for law-abiding citizens and warned that the market could remain shut for up to one month if non-compliance persists.
On Tuesday morning, a heavy deployment of security operatives was observed in and around the market, with armoured personnel carriers and Hilux patrol vans stationed at strategic points to restrict movement.
Addressing public concerns, the Police Public Relations Officer, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, said the deployment was strictly for security purposes.
He said the command wished to inform members of the public that the Onitsha Main Market had been re-closed in compliance with the directive of the Anambra State Government, as approved by Governor Soludo.
“In furtherance of this directive, adequate security has been deployed in and around the market, as well as other strategic locations within Onitsha, by the Police in collaboration with other security agencies to maintain law and order and prevent any breach of public peace,” Ikenga said.
He added that traders seen gathering around the market in a viral video were addressed and sensitised on the need to comply fully with government directives in the interest of public safety, security, and economic stability.
Ikenga further assured residents that the situation in Onitsha and across Anambra State remained calm and under control, noting that continuous monitoring was ongoing to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
