Enugu State Erupts In Violence: Traders killed, Ogbete Main Market sealed amidst sit-at-home tensions
Tensions escalated in Enugu State as protests erupted following the indefinite closure of Ogbete Main Market by Governor Peter Mbah due to noncompliance with his ban on sit-at-home activities.
According to Naija News House, the embattled Governor Mbah-led government declared a strong stance against residents and private businesses that failed to open on Mondays, in response to a call for an “illegal sit-at-home” by a Nigerian separatist, Simon Ekpa, residing in Finland.
Governor Mbah ordered the sealing of numerous shops, malls, and banks on Monday as part of the crackdown.
READ ALSO: Gov. Mbah threatens Enugu traders with shop, license revocation over sit-at-home compliance
In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof Chidiebere Onyia, the Governor justified the closures and stated that the affected businesses would remain shut for one week.
Furthermore, owners of the sealed establishments were required to present their current tax clearance certificates and relevant revenue documents within the week for the state government’s review.
Failure to do so would lead to their businesses being auctioned off or permanently forfeited to the state.
The situation took a turn for the worse on Wednesday morning when traders, whose shops were sealed, demanded that their businesses be reopened; otherwise, they vowed not to resume trading. This confrontation led to protests within the market.
Gerald Uzu, a trader present during the protests, recounted that the situation escalated when soldiers and hundreds of policemen were deployed to the market by the Governor.
As tensions soared, gunfire broke out, resulting in the tragic death of two traders. Many others were injured during the chaos.
A police officer, who was at the scene, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview.
He lamented that the Governor’s handling of the sit-at-home situation had led to the regrettable loss of lives and the indefinite closure of Ogbete Main Market.
As of now, the market remains closed, and the situation remains tense, with no immediate resolution in sight.
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