Anambra Markets , Banks , Schools open on monday as zero attacks recorded

Anambra Markets , Banks , Schools open on monday  as zero attacks recorded 

NKIRU NWAGBO,

AWKA

02/02/26

After more than five years , Anambra state has finally put an end to the Monday sit at home order by the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB) as markets , schools and banks were opened .

Recall that IPOB had insisted that the sit at home order must be obeyed despite the order by Governor Charles Soludo that normal activities must hold warning that institutions that failed to comply to this directive would face the wrath of the law .

Soludo had last Monday shut down the Onitsha main market on the account of the traders not opening for business.

 The markets,  especially the Onitsha main market were  open as well as the banks and schools as against the apprehension that the separatists group would unleash mayhem on defaulters.

At the Onitsha main market all the shops were open while security operatives which is a combine team of the eight Service Commanders made up of the NIgerian Army , the Police and the Agunechemba Security Squad were on hand to avert any unlikely event of attacks or arson in the area .

Most traders urged photo journalists to record their shops to indicate that they have complied with the Governor's directive of opening shops on Monday.

"We are complying with the Governor's directive and as you can see our shops are open and  we are attending to our customers as expected" the traders said .

They also expressed happiness with the heavy presence of the security operatives and urged the state government to sustain it every day .

The National Coordinator APGA Media Warriors Evangelist Chinedu Obigwe who was also at the market stated that this development has shamed the opposition in Anambra state adding that it is a win win situation for the people of the state..

"The opposition had boasted that the traders would not obey the Governor but today they have been shamed " 

"Those miscreants that go about harnessing people every Monday were no where to be found and the era of playing politics with the well being of Anambra is over and we are home and dry " 

"We especially thank our able working Governor Prof Charles Soludo for this as well as the traders and security operatives for this success in putting an end to this draconian order of sit at home" he noted .

The Chairman of Onitsha Main Market Association Mr Chijioke Okparaugo who was seen monitoring compliance to the Governor's order told reporters to feel free to visit any line in the market adding that those days of Monday sit at home are over .

"I cannot say anything now but I urge you to feel free to visit any line or any part of the market to confirm that we are back in business every Monday " he said.

Police Public Relations Officer SP Tochukwu Ikenga described the compliance as above eighty percent adding that the Command was proactive in it's operations to ensure that security of lives and property is guaranteed.

"You can see and it speaks for itself that the issue of Monday sit at home has been laid to rest and I can score the level of compliance over eighty percent" 

"This is exactly what we are talking about that you cannot on a Monday sit at home doing nothing when you are supposed to go out for business and we also appreciate both the Anambra state government and the traders for this success story " 

"We want to reassure the general public that those gory tales of attacks and arson occasioned by the Monday sit at home are over as we as a security personnel would continue to ensure the safety of lives and property in the state and everyday; not just on Mondays alone " he said.

Special Adviser to Soludo on Community Security Prince Kenneth Emeakayi described this development as great adding that the Agunechemba Security Squad would remain battle ready to take care of the internal security in all the markets in Anambra state.

"We particularly thank out traders for this and also all the security operatives for coming out in their numbers to recover our Monday which was hijacked by these miscreants and most of them are not even traders " 

"We shall ensure that the internal security in our markets are sustained and we urge the traders to go about their lawful duties without any fears or worries because Agunechemba is indeed on top of the moment" he noted 

Chief Anthony Nweze  Nworah the Mayor of Onitsha North local government area where the main market is located said ;

"This is a welcome development and for four and half years Onitsha main market has always been shut down every Monday and through the resilience of of our Governor Charles Soludo the market came alive today"

"In Anambra state only this market is known to have always be shut down and today history has been made and as you came see the market is bubbling and all the shops are open and people are doing business and the entire place is busy "

"Also the security operatives are here to make sure that business is going on and that there is protection of lives and property which is the foundemental duty of the Governor and me myself as the  Mayor of Onitsha North local government area"

"Nobody is being molested or harassed and most importantly our Governor has gone underground to put things in place to make sure that the banks are open and people have gone to school and the motorparks are operating"

"We are so happy with the traders for coming out to open their shops to do business and the transporters are complying and this is the vision of the Governor"

"It would be sustained and that is being consistent and it is a collaborative effort of all and sundry and you cannot estimate how much people lose including revenue when markets are closed every Monday"

"People pay stolage fees annually and if you open or not you must pay so it is to the benefit of the traders that they open shops on Mondays  and the revenue that goes to government it would still get it "; he concluded.