Reported By Mary Udezue | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Traders in Onitsha have taken to the streets and blocked key transport routes, including the Onitsha Head Bridge, in protest against the one-week closure of the Onitsha Main Market ordered by Governor Chukwuma Soludo. The demonstrations follow the state government’s directive issued on January 26, 2026, aimed at enforcing compliance with a policy requiring markets to remain open on Mondays — part of broader efforts to end the long-running “Monday sit-at-home” practice that authorities say has crippled commerce in the South-East region.
Video footage circulating widely on social media and corroborated by multiple news outlets shows groups of traders barricading the Onitsha Head Bridge, a vital link between Anambra and neighboring states, with protesters chanting slogans rejecting the market closure and the sit-at-home order. In some clips, demonstrators were heard shouting “Soludo, we no go gree o” and “Say no to Monday,” signalling resistance to state enforcement actions perceived as punitive and economically damaging.
The initial closure order came after traders at the Onitsha Main Market, one of Africa’s largest open-air commercial hubs, continued to observe the weekly sit-at-home despite repeated appeals by the Anambra State government to resume full trading activities. Governor Soludo described the continued market closure by traders as “economic sabotage” and announced that any market remaining shut on Monday would be closed for a week, with further sanctions possible if compliance was not achieved.
Security forces, including the Nigeria Police, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and other agencies, were deployed in large numbers to enforce the market shutdown and maintain order around the market perimeter. Armoured personnel carriers and patrol vehicles were positioned at strategic points to restrict access to market entrances, and operatives were ordered to prevent traders from gaining entry.
Tensions escalated when groups of protesters attempted to breach security cordons. Reports confirm that sporadic gunshots were heard near the market area as traders clashed with security personnel attempting to enforce the directive. These incidents prompted traders and bystanders to flee to safety while security forces maintained their positions to prevent a breakdown of law and order.
The protests have been described by some traders and market unions as a response not only to the closure but to long-standing grievances over the economic impact of recurring sit-at-home orders, which were originally linked to separatist agitation and the demand for the release of the detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Traders have argued that repeated closures have hurt livelihoods, disrupted supply chains, and contributed to rising business costs.
Critics of the government’s approach have also raised concerns about the deployment of heavily armed security forces against largely civilian protesters. The Indigenous People of Biafra rejected what it described as “excessive use of force,” claiming that live ammunition was fired at unarmed civilians and that the actions constituted violations of human rights and peaceful protest rights. The group insisted it did not support violent demonstrations but called for respect for citizens’ rights.
Economic stakeholders have weighed in on the potential consequences of prolonged market closures. The president of the Anambra Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ACCI) urged the state government to consider reopening the market earlier than planned, suggesting a phased approach and dialogue between government and market leaders. The ACCI highlighted disruptions to supply chains, potential spoilage of perishable goods, and wider economic losses for traders and dependent households.
Anambra State officials maintain that the shutdown is necessary to restore consistent business activity and end practices that have undermined the state’s economy. Government representatives have reiterated that the sit-at-home directive has no legal backing and that enforcing a schedule of normal business operations is essential for stability and growth.
As of the latest reports, security remained tight around the Onitsha Main Market and adjacent trading districts, with authorities urging calm and compliance. The situation continues to evolve as traders and state officials navigate a complex mix of economic grievances, public order concerns, and broader political tensions associated with the sit-at-home issue and its ramifications for Nigeria’s South-East region.
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