Tension gripped the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State on Tuesday as traders clashed with security operatives enforcing the closure of the commercial hub, leading to sporadic gunshots and panic within the area.
The unrest followed a directive by the Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, who ordered the shutdown of the market on Monday after traders continued to observe the sit-at-home directive linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra.
The governor had questioned why trading activities remained suspended despite what he described as a return of peace and stability across the state, insisting that economic life must resume fully.
To enforce the order, armoured vehicles and heavily armed police officers were deployed to the market early on Tuesday, effectively sealing off the area.
However, later in the day, some traders reportedly defied the restriction and attempted to access their shops, an action that brought them into confrontation with security personnel at the scene.
Eyewitness accounts and videos circulating online showed traders scampering for safety amid the sound of gunshots, as confusion spread across the market.
As of the time of filing this report, there were no confirmed reports of casualties, while authorities had yet to issue an official statement on the incident.
