Traders at Onitsha Main Market have reopened their shops, complying with a directive from Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, despite a sit-at-home order allegedly called by the proscribed IPOB.
A Channels Television visit to the market on Monday morning revealed activity as early as 8:45 a.m., with traders setting up wares from Egerton to Ose Foodstuff Market and The Young Park, a major entrance.
Areas including Emeka Offor Plaza, Sokoto Road, Lagos Line, and Marine were also active, and customers began patronizing shops.
IPOB, through spokesman Emma Powerful, had urged traders, transporters, banks, schools, and civil servants to observe the strike.
However, IPOB’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, dismissed the lockdown directive as “fake” and urged the public to ignore it, reiterating the group’s stance against sit-at-home orders.
The Anambra State Police Command warned residents about coordinated social media campaigns by non-state actors intended to spread fear, misinformation, and disrupt peace.
The police emphasized intelligence-led patrols, security surveillance, and proactive operations to protect lives and property. Residents were advised to disregard unverified content and report suspicious activities.
Governor Soludo and the police have assured traders of full security coverage as economic activities resume in the state.
