Suspected hoodlums dump coffin at Onitsha main market admin HQ

Suspected hoodlums on Sunday night reportedly dumped a coffin at the entrance of the “White House,” the administrative complex of the Onitsha Main Market, apparently in a bid to intimidate traders and prevent the market from reopening on Monday, February 2, as ordered by Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo.

Meanwhile, unverified reports circulating within the market claim that the Chairman of the Onitsha Main Market, Chijioke Okpalaugo, has allegedly stepped down from his position. Vanguard could not independently confirm the claim as of press time.

Some traders, however, linked the alleged resignation to the governor’s directive to reopen the market, saying the chairman was unwilling to endanger his life by enforcing the order.

According to traders, the coffin placed in front of the “White House,” which also serves as the chairman’s office, was intended as a threat, warning him not to allow trading activities to resume. They alleged it was meant to remind him of the fate of the Chairman of Mgbuka Amazu Market, Obosi, Francis Enibe, who was kidnapped in his market on a Monday and has remained missing for more than two years.

Vanguard gathered that security personnel stationed at the “White House” were unable to say when the coffin was brought in or who was responsible for placing it there.

A trader told Vanguard that news of the chairman’s alleged resignation had been trending on the traders’ WhatsApp platforms since Sunday night.

Several traders who spoke to Vanguard on Monday morning said they had resolved to stay indoors and avoid the market. One trader disclosed that he instructed his four apprentices, who usually leave home for the market as early as 6:30 a.m., not to go out, stressing that he did not want to be held accountable by their parents should anything go wrong.

As of Monday morning, Onitsha witnessed a near-total absence of vehicular and human movement, a sharp contrast to the usual bustle before the governor ordered the market shut. One of the traders, Okechukwu Okafor, said traders want Governor Soludo to personally come to Onitsha to address them before any reopening can be effective, just as he reportedly did last Monday when he ordered the closure of the market.

“It is not just staying in Awka and surrounded by the army, police and DSS and giving orders that the Onitsha Main Market should be reopened. We want Governor Soludo to come to Onitsha like he did last week when he ordered the market to be shut down.

He should also come and do the normal opening ceremony so that the traders in the market will start trading,” Okafor said.