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Protesting traders have blocked the popular River Niger Bridge in Onitsha over the temporary closure of Onitsha Main Market by Governor Charles Soludo of Anambra State.
The bridge links Onitsha in Anambra State, Nigeria’s South-east,, to Asaba in Delta State, Nigeria’s South-south.
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PREMIUM TIMES earlier reported that Governor Soludo of Anambra State ordered the closure of the market for one week when he visited on Monday and observed that shops were closed for businesses in compliance with a sit-at-home directive.
The illegal directive is often enforced by a faction of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
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The Anambra State Government, on Monday night, claimed, without providing details, that the illegal directive costs the state about N8 billion weekly.
Bridge blocked as protest enters second day
The protest against the market closure, which began on Tuesday, entered its second day on Wednesday, when protesters blocked the Niger Bridge.
Several video clips seen by PREMIUM TIMES showed the protesters blocking the bridge.
In one of the clips, hundreds of protesters were seen rolling logs of wood and what appeared to be a rusted iron drum onto the main road to block the highway.
“Head bridge blocked. No going out, no coming in,” one of the protesters declared.
“They should block the road. Nothing will happen. If Onitsha Main Market does not open, no other market will open,” another protester added.
Some armed security operatives were seen monitoring the incident, but the clip did not show them either stopping the protesters or manhandling them.
In another clip, some travellers on the bridge appeared stranded as protesters blocked their vehicles.
Another clip showed the protesters appearing to block access through the bridge by lining up to barricade the road.
“Does he feed us in this state?” one protester said, apparently referring to Governor Soludo.
“Onitsha to Asaba blocked—no way in, no way out. Standstill,” another protester added.
Background
The sit-at-home directive began in the South-East in August 2021 when IPOB imposed it in the region.
The directive, which was to be observed every Monday, was intended to press the Nigerian government to release its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who was facing terrorism charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
READ ALSO: Onitsha Market Closure: Anambra assembly backs Soludo, gives reason
The group later suspended the weekly directive, limiting it to days Mr Kanu appeared in court. However, residents of Enugu, Ebonyi, Imo, Abia and Anambra states continued to observe the directive largely out of fear.
IPOB repeatedly distanced itself from the continued enforcement, insisting that those behind it were criminals exploiting the group’s name.
Despite this, Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based Biafra agitator, continued to issue sit-at-home orders, even after being suspended by the IPOB faction loyal to Mr Kanu.
In July 2023, PREMIUM TIMES reported that Mr Kanu, through his lawyer Aloy Ejimakor, directed Mr Ekpa to halt the action. Mr Ekpa dismissed the directive as fake, insisting the order would continue unless Mr Kanu personally addressed him in Finland.
Efforts by Igbo leaders, including Enugu Governor Peter Mbah, Anambra Governor Mr Soludo, and Ohanaeze Ndigbo, to end the practice yielded limited results.
While the sit-at-home has largely disappeared in Enugu, Abia, and Ebonyi states, it persists in Anambra and Imo.
Meanwhile, Mr Kanu was convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment for terrorism in November, while Mr Ekpa received a six-year prison sentence in Finland for similar offences.
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