- Safiu Kehinde
A group of angry protesters has on Wednesday blocked the River Niger Bridge in Onitsha as agitations against Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s one-week shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market.
NPO Reported that Soludo had on Monday visited the market where he observed that all the shops were under locks and keys.
Addressing the traders present in the market, the governor expressed his displeasure over the development as he reiterated the state government’s lifting of the sit-at-home order imposed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) across all Southeast states.
He declared a one-week shutdown of the market, warning that subsequent violation of his directive over the order will attract one-month shutdown.
This had since been met with the heavy protest by the traders since Tuesday.
In a latest update on the demonstration, the protesting traders stormed the Onitsha bridge.
A video shared on X showed the protesters barricading both lanes with empty oil barrels and tree branches.
Commuters were left stranded at both end of the bridge as they watched on helplessly.
See video below