- Safiu Kehinde
The Anambra State Police Command has deployed its personnel to Onitsha Main Market and other strategic locations as it vowed to maintain peace, enforce lawful directives and prevent any breach of public order across the state.
This is coming under the heels of the ongoing demonstration in Onitsha over the cone-week closure of the main market by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.
NPO Reported that the governor had on Monday paid an unscheduled visit to the market where he discovered that the stores were closed over the traders’ continued compliance with the sit-at-homr order.
In reaction, Soludo declared one-week suspension of trading activities in the market- a declaration which had since triggered protest and unrest across Onitsha.
The Anambra Police Command, in a statement issued on Wednesday by its spokesman, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, disclosed the deployment of officers to the area by the state Commissioner of Police, CP Ikioye Orutugu, who was in Onitsha to reinforce public order, safety and public confidence.
According to Ikenga, the commissioner is on a security assessment tour, supervising deployment of police-led joint security forces at strategic locations.
“This proactive engagement underscores our resolve to maintain peace, ensure compliance with lawful directives and prevent any breach of public order,” he said.
Ikenga said the security situation in Onitsha remained calm, assuring residents, traders and commuters of their safety.