Sit at home ban: Three feared dead as traders protest

It was gathered that the protest by the traders followed the closure of some of their shops and offices by the State Government on Monday.

The government had made good its threat to close down businesses that failed to open on Monday over its ban on the illegal sit-at-home order imposed by a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Also on Tuesday, the government insisted that all businesses sealed would remain shut for one week, adding that all sealed businesses could only be reopened after the owners must have provided their current tax clearance certificates and all other relevant revenue documents.

Some of the shops and offices sealed in the market included those of the Ogbete Market Amalgamated Traders Association (OMATA).

Irked by the announcement, the traders were said to have announced that the market remains shut in solidarity with their members whose businesses had been closed, following the Governor’s directive.

With this, the traders were said to have begun demonstrations in the market as they marched from the market to the major roads angrily..

It was gathered, however that the real trouble started when some of the protesters climbed up and started destroying billboards of Governor Peter Mbah.

Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that it was in the course of attempting to disperse the protesters that some policemen shot and killed three persons, including a woman.

While the protest quickly spread as other residents joined, all the roads leading to the Ogbete Market and the adjoining Okpara Avenue and Ogui Road were barricaded.

The development caused panic as motorists and traders ran for their dear lives with the protesters creating burnfires in the middle of the roads and chanting anti-government slogans.

But, reacting to the development, the spokesman of the state police command, Daniel Ndukwe, said normalcy had been restored at Ogbete Market Enugu and its surroundings.

Though, he did not say anything about those killed, Ndukwe said the peaceful protest was hijacked.

He said the protest was caused by the attempts by those whose shops were sealed to force others whose shops were not sealed to close theirs in solidarity.

The police statement reads: “The initially peaceful protest was hijacked and made to become violent.

“Traders in the market and citizens alike have been pleaded with to remain law-abiding, peaceful and cooperative while using approved channels to express their grievances.

“Full-scale investigation has been initiated on the orders of the Commissioner of Police, while further development, especially as it concerns reports of casualties being circulated, will be communicated as soon as possible, please”.

Peoplesmind