By Juliana Nwachukwu :
No fewer than 2,000 traders, mostly widows, from Ajasa Street Market Traders on weekend took to the major roads in Onitsha, Anambra State, protesting alleged heavy shootings by the local vigilante group attached to a neighbouring market, Oseokwodu in a bid to forcefully merge them with Oseokwodu market.
The protesting traders led by their Woman Leader, Mrs Ngozi Ezediniru, their Chairman, Chief Chima Ohia, and Secretary, Emeka Mba, said that Ajasa Street market has been in existence right for years, wondering why the Chairman, Oseokwodu market, Chief Ikechukwu Umeanozie a.k.a Chanchanji would just wake up and use his security men to forcefully merge them without their consent when they are independent registered Street market.
Some of the protesting traders carried placards with the inscription, “Chanchanji leave our market alone, you can’t because of self centeredness and money merge us with Oseokwodu market, Governor Soludo and Commerce Commissioner should come to our rescue.
Other inscriptions include Ikechukwu Umeanozie is only about four months as Oseokwodu market caretaker committee chairman not elected, Umeanozie is interested in how to make money from poor traders, most of who are petty widow traders”.
Speaking, the woman leader said that they were surprised on Oct. 8 afternoon when some armed men attached to the Oseokwodu market stormed their market and started shooting sporadically, which resulted in scampering for safety.
“Some of us sustained various degrees of injuries and the gunmen told us that once it is 6pm everyday we must shut our market as it is now under Oseokwodu market.
“We are independent street traders and we close between 9pm to 10pm daily and open about 6.30am daily. This is a residential market that is completely outside Oseokwodu market. Because we don’t have who will talk on our behalf, he came with this intimidation,” woman leader said.
Also reacting during the protest, the Chairman of the street traders, Chief Ohia, said that the aim was to intimidate them and merge Ajasa Street market with Oseokwodu market for the chairman to make more personal money.
“We can’t be intimidated by the antics of this chairman who is desperate to make quick money before leaving office as interim chairman of Oseokwodu markek.
“The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr Obinna Ngonadi is a no nonsense man, he will call Umeanozie to order before he kills us with guns, like he did this afternoon,” he said.
In a swift reaction when contacted on phone, the Oseokwodu Chairman, Chief Umeanozie said that he was a one time chairman of the Ajasa Street market.
“It is Oseokwodu market vigilante group that guards Ajasa street market and it is under zone one of Oseokwodu market,” Umeanozie explained.
