The police and Enugu state government said Wednesday’s peaceful protest by traders opposed to sealing of market stalls in Ogbete Main Market by the state government was hijacked by armed hoodlums and miscreants, who took advantage of the exercise to break shops and loot traders’ wares.
Some aggrieved traders took to the streets Wednesday morning protesting the sealing of their shops by the State government for not opening for business on Monday.
The government had directed business operators, workers and residents to stop observing the Monday sit-at-home ordered by a faction of the Independent People of Biafra, IPOB.
Following noncompliance by some traders , the government on Tuesday sealed the shops of the defaulting traders a development that led to the protest march on Wednesday.
The police said shortly after the protest that normalcy has been restored at Ogbete Market Enugu and its surroundings, but did not confirm casualty figures which some protesters speculated could be up to three but one lifeless body was shown in a trending video after the incident .
Many were said to have also sustained injuries during the clash between the security operatives and the protesters.
“Normalcy has been restored at Ogbete Market Enugu and its surroundings, following the report of protest by some traders over the sealing of their shops by the State Government and their attempt to force others, whose shops were not sealed, to close theirs and the entire market closed. The initially peaceful protest was hijacked and made to become violent”, the State Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Enugu Command, DSP Daniel Ndukwe, said in a statement made available to journalists.
The command pleaded with traders in the market and citizens alike to remain law-abiding, peaceful and cooperative, while using approved channels to express their grievances.
He said that full-scale investigation had been initiated on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, while further development, especially as it concerns reports of casualties being circulated, would be communicated as soon as possible.
In its official reaction to the incident signed by Secretary to the State Government, SSG, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, the government said:
“The Enugu State Government received with grave concern the ugly incident at Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, today.
“Information available to Government shows that traders whose shops were sealed for non-compliance with Government’s order banning Monday sit-at-home, defied the instruction on how the shops should be re-opened and resorted to self-help by removing the seals. This led to internal squabbles between the market leadership and some of the affected traders.
“The ensuing confrontation resulted in a protest, which was infiltrated and hijacked by dangerously armed hoodlums and miscreants, who broke shops and looted traders’ wares.
“Attempt by security operatives to restore order and prevent further looting was violently resisted by the imported and armed hoodlums. Government is receiving further briefings on the development.
“In the meantime, investigation to unravel the circumstance surrounding the incident, including the reports of casualty, is already ongoing.
“Government calls on the people and residents of Enugu to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses, as adequate security measures are in place to secure lives and property in the State.“
