Nnewi Market Traders Protest Alleged Extortion, Intimidation by Council Officials

By Praise Chinecherem

A group of traders at Agboedo United Market F Line Nnewi, Anambra state on Thursday protested alleged extortion and intimidation by officials of the Nnewi North Local Government Area.

The traders, who have been operating in the market for over 30 years, claimed they were being subjected to unlawful levies and possible eviction.

The protest witnessed total lockdown of shops in the market as traders gathered at the market entrance, carrying placards with inscriptions such as “We are under peaceful protest, we are no longer happy” Explain the meaning of revalidation” “Stop Extortion Now” and “We Want Justice.”

The protesters alleged that the local government chairman, Hon. Echezona Anazodo, and his cohorts have been collecting illegal levies from them to the tune of 20,000 aside government approved levies.

They further alleged that some of them were demanded to pay as much as ₦4.5 million and ₦5 Million respectively as penalty for late payment.

One the traders, Mrs Agustina Azubuike lamented that despite their contributions to the development of the market, they have not received any support from the local government.

She said, “Instead, we’re being rewarded with harassment and intimidation by officials, with threats of eviction from the market. We wonder why they will be this mean to us.

“Most of us have these shops as our retirement entitlement which we are using in our old age to buy medications.

“We call on Governor Soludo, the solution governor not to mind their gimmicks. Their intention is to subject us to abject penury.

“If this continues, many of us will die out of frustration because we can’t afford the high levy of N4.5m they are demanding from us for these shops.”

“We have built this market over the years, and now we are being asked to pay ₦5 million each for shops at the rice section of the market. This is unacceptable.

“Even the widows at oOduigbo are also expected to pay the ₦20,000 for revalidation. We are calling on Governor Charles Soludo to intervene and stop this extortion.”

Other traders who don’t want their names on print for fear of victimization queried the owner of the special account, 1910999891 at Access Bank with name BOLTEV NIG LTD, sighted by our correspondent, where over 360 shops in Ogbo rice are expected to pay in ₦4.5 million each totalling ₦1,620,000,000 billion naira.

“Under which authority, law and order is the mayor requesting for this payment? We are at loss of the imposition of ₦20,000 for the revalidation of 2,200 shops to the tune of ₦44,000,000.

“Why is this money being collected and why is there no receipt issued to that effect. The mayor is deliberately doing this to set up governor Soludo for failure, bearing in mind that this is an election year,” they alleged.

While praising the Governor for his efforts in transforming the state, the traders appealed to him to look into the matter and bring the alleged extortion to an end.

They warned that if the situation persisted, it might lead to a mass voter protest during upcoming elections.

“These officials are making life miserable for us. The mayor should focus his efforts on how to reclaim erosion menace ravaging the market and do their internal roads, than setting up Soludo’s government against the traders and Ndi Anambra.

As at time of filing the report, no official statement has been released by the Mayor.

But our correspondent who witnessed the protest at the local government that turned into a solidarity rally for the mayor, gathered that they were cowed to endorse the mayor for fear of victimization against their earlier stand which was captured on video at the Agboedo United Market F Line Nnewi.

The protest has brought attention to the plight of traders in the market and the need for government intervention to address the issue.

The traders were optimistic that their voices would be heard and grievances addressed.