The Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) has expressed strong condemnation towards the decision made by the Anambra State Government to shut down Onitsha Main Market, labeling it as punitive and infringing upon the fundamental rights of traders.
The organization criticized comments allegedly made by Governor Charles Soludo, instructing traders to operate from Monday to Saturday or leave the state. They characterized this as an attack on economic freedom.
During a press conference held Monday in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, CDHR spokesperson Jerry Onyibe described the government's actions as arbitrary and a violation of traders’ economic rights.
Mr. Onyibe emphasized that while the government has the responsibility to uphold law and order, it must do so within a framework that respects citizens’ human rights.
He pointed out that the constitution ensures the right to livelihood, freedom of movement, and protection from arbitrary government interference.
“The traders and business owners are not the cause of insecurity in Anambra,” he stated. “Rather, they are victims who have faced fear, income loss, and threats to their lives due to unresolved security issues.”
Onyibe warned that the closure of the market would exacerbate hardship, increase poverty, and fuel discontent in a region considered a commercial hub in the Southeast.
Additionally, he stressed that the government should prioritize resolving security issues and must ensure that citizens can trade without fear for their safety.
He urged the state government to protect lives and property, collaborate with market unions and civil society organizations, and implement security measures that prioritize safeguarding citizens rather than punishing them.
Mr. Onyibe also advised the governor to refrain from employing rhetoric or measures that might intimidate law-abiding individuals or infringe upon their rights.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Onitsha Main Market, recognized as one of the largest markets in West Africa, was ordered closed on Monday under instructions from Governor Soludo.
The governor indicated that the closure would last for one week due to traders' ongoing adherence to the sit-at-home directive issued by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
He indicated that this is the latest and possibly the most severe action aimed at regaining control of economic activities in Southeast Nigeria on Mondays.
“The real enemy is the longstanding, fear-based Monday sit-at-home directive, which has been enforced by non-state actors, strangling businesses and normalizing this weekly lockdown for years,” he mentioned.
Despite numerous assurances of improved security and calls to reclaim public spaces, many traders at this prominent market opted once more to keep their stalls shut.
He noted that the absence of traders was not simply a sign of quiet defiance, but rather a testament to the continuing atmosphere of fear.
NAN also reported that economic activities have significantly declined in recent years due to security challenges, including the IPOB's sit-at-home directive and various acts of violence.
While incidents of killings linked to IPOB have lessened in the Southeast, many residents remain hesitant to open their businesses on Mondays out of fear of potential attacks.
The CDHR cautioned that progress cannot be achieved through the suppression of citizens' means of survival.
“Building a prosperous Anambra is only achievable when security, dignity, and human rights are prioritized in governance,” the organization stated.
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