The “City of Commerce” is at a standstill. Onitsha Main Market traders hit the streets today to protest Governor Soludo’s mandatory one-week closure of the market—a move aimed at crushing the “sit-at-home” enforcements in the Southeast.
The Conflict:
- The Government’s Stance: Soludo insists the closure is a necessary “reset” to stop traders from yielding to illegal sit-at-home orders.
- The Traders’ Reality: Protesters argue they are being punished twice—first by insecurity, and now by a government policy that cuts off their daily bread.
With millions of Naira in daily trade currently frozen, the standoff raises a massive question: Is “tough love” the right way to restore security, or is it hurting the people it’s meant to protect?
