Ogbo-ogwu Market Leadership Crisis: Angry Traders Lock Leader over Alleged Abduction

By Praise Chinecherem

Chairman of Onitsha drug (Ogbogwu) market, Bridge head, Anambra State, Chukwuleta Ndubuisi was on Wednesday held hostage by aggrieved traders in the market.

The traders, under the aegis of “Concerned and Genuine Members of Ogbogwu market who held Ndubisi for over four hours claimed he kidnapped their member, Uche Obiorah and his wife.

They demanded immediate release of the detainees and sack of the Chairman for alleged lack of accountability of his stewardship since assumption of office.

Ndubuisi who narrated his ordeal to newsmen denied the kidnap allegations, saying the affected traders were arrested by the police over fakery.

He said, “a trader in the market called me and told me that his shop was locked up by the taskforce and I told him I am on my way to the market to know why they should lock up his shop.

“On arrival at the market I was told that some traders who I am fighting for dealing in fake/counterfeit drugs were protesting and vowed to kill me if they see me.

“That they were shouting, ‘Ndubuisi a thief,’ (Onye ori), and as I was approaching my office I heard them shouting Ndubuisi a thief, and I took the back door to the upstairs because they locked the main gate.

“As I was climbing the stairs, from the back door, one of them saw me and shouted that I have come and rushed to hold me but withdrew to call others.

“They then locked the back door, protesting and ringing bell that I must remain hostage until I release their member and wife I kidnapped.

“This their member and wife were arrested by the police and not me over fakery. I started making calls to Commissioner of police, and others because I was held hostage.

“They didn’t allow even my treasurer, secretary and others to come to the office as they locked everywhere. For more than four hours I was held hostage until the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Chidi Nzota, came to my rescue.

“These are few people who are formenting trouble in the market because I am fighting them for dealing in fake drugs. They say I refuse to render account when the government that installed me has not asked me to render account.

“Since NAFDAC shut the market for about three months over fakery and reopened it, they have intensified their war against me, portraying frivolous allegations to tarnish my image because what they want is for me to be removed so that they will continue with dealing in fake drugs.”

In a swift reaction, leader of the Concerned and Genuine Members of Ogbogwu Market, Bridge head, Chief Chibueze Ifejiofor, denied all the allegations leveled against the group by Ndubuisi, insisting they only blocked the gate.

“Ndubuisi kidnapped our member and his wife when he came to their shop to demand for payment of a levy which the wife refused because it is illegal.

“We are the members of ‘Justice for Ogbogwu,’ Ndubuisi refused to render account of stewardship since he assumed office, he continues to extort us, demanding various extortions, ranging from transformer levy, security, among others.

“He boasts to us that Governor Soludo is his brother and that whatever we say or do he can’t be sacked. We didn’t lock the gate, we only blocked it that nobody should enter until our member and wife are released.

“His claim is fallacy, he is a lier, he called us beggars. If he said we locked the gate how did Police Area Commander come to his office upstairs.

“What he does is to use security, especially police to arrest perceived enemies or those who oppose his bad leadership.

“We urge Soludo to remove him and conduct an election or at worse, appoint a caretaker committee because the extortion is much and he refused to render account of stewardship.

“He said he can’t render account to us but to government. We are the one that make payment,” he stated.

Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Chidi Nzota, while warning the warring parties said, “What we want is peace and I will not tolerate violence.

“For about seven months I was transferred to this place peace has been restored and anybody who wants to breach the peace will be dealt with.

“We will not tolerate breach of the law, there should not be any illegal gathering and for any campaign or activities you should inform the police for approval and protection.

“You can’t remove the market chairman by force, there are procedures. The courts are also there for you to seek redress if you feel you are being victimized.”