Traders from Onitsha’s Ajasa Street Market flocked to the Anambra State Secretariat in Awka on Oct. 27 in a peaceful protest against Okechukwu Umeanozie’s (aka Chanchanji’s) constant harassment and threats to their lives.
The protesters were distressed over the constant intimidation and violence meted out to them by Umeanozie for their refusal to be merged into Oseokwodu Market.
The traders mostly widows carried placards with the following inscriptions: CHANCHANJI IS TOO MUCH FOR US; CHANCHAJI & HOODLUMS STOP SHOOTING AT US WE ARE NOT CRIMINALS; AJASA IS NOT ODU IGBO; WHY SHOULD WE CLOSE BY 6 PM, ARE WE OSE, NO!.
“We have raised alarm on several occasions when they disrupted our business activities, shooting their guns at us, injuring many traders inside their shops.”
One of the protesters, Mrs Chidimma Onwudiwe cried out “Chanchanji threatened to shoot at us if we ever open up our shops tomorrow Oct. 28, boasting that the Governor is his godfather and that he can do whatever he likes”.
Mr Nwachukwu Olibo asked the government to intervene in the matter to avoid bloodshed; “government should prevail on the people of Ose to let us be. They should release two of our traders they arrested that were still under their custody”.
Responding to the angry protesting traders, the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr Emenike Ezinando thanked the traders for coordinating their protest in a peaceful manner.
The Perm Sec explained that the Commissioner, Dr Obinna Ngonadi left the office for an official assignment, and would be briefed concerning their complaints.
He entreated them on behalf of the Anambra State Government and the Ministry of Commerce and Industry to calm their minds and return to Onitsha because he would deliver their requests to the Commissioner and would ensure that the matter received the urgent attention and intervention it deserved.
The Chairman of Ajasa Market, Mr Chima Ohia thanked the Perm Sec for his advice and hoped to hear from the government soon to enable them to open their market on Oct. 28.
