Tension as Suspected Thugs Attack, Injure Ex- Onitsha Market Leader, Loot His Shops

By Praise Chinecherem

Former Chairman of Emordi Shoe Dealers Association, Ochanja market, Onitsha, Anambra state, Tochukwu Anigbogu on Wednesday escaped death following attack by thugs allegedly hired by a former market leader, Chief Nwabueze Umeh.

The suspected thugs reportedly stormed the market with dangerous weapons and proceeded the attack the victim, leaving him in a pool of his blood.

Umeh has however denied the allegations, claiming it was rather Anigbogu that came to attack him in his own office when those who were at the scene decided to retaliate.

Anigbogu, a former councilor in Njikoka Ward II and member of the Soludo /Ibezim Campaign Council was elected Chairma, Emordi Shoe dealers alongside eight other executives on November 20, 2025 in an election supervised by officials of Onitsha South local government area.

Surprisingly, the state government through the Special Adviser on Markets Development, Chief Evarist Uba later nullified the election and inaugurated a caretaker committee to oversee the affairs of the market.

Anigbogu and his group have since gone to court to challenge the action contending that they were duly elected with the mandate of the traders as a sub market association within Ochanja General main market.

Trouble however ensued yesterday when Anigbogu led some policemen to effect arrest of some traders in the market who instigated the attack on their leadership, disrupting their prayer session and handover ceremony on December 5, 2025.

In the process, armed men and thugs loyal to Umeh allegedly descended on Anigbogu, beating and inflicting injuries on him.

Eye witness said Anigbogu was rushed to a nearby hospital for medical attention but his attackers also stormed the facility to continue their attack but were prevented by the hospital security.

He was later evacuated to another facility on discreet measures to save his life.

Speaking from the undisclosed medical facility where he is receiving treatment, Anigbogu alleged that Umeh hijacked the affairs of the Emordi Shoe Dealers for the past nine years when he refused to hand over after the expiration of his tenure.

“Ofia had before now, failed to account for the multi million naira 450 plots of land acquired by the traders under his leadership at Oba and another 100 shops built by the traders for expansion of their market.

“The thugs led by Ofia descended on me with dangerous weapons and later invaded my three shops in the market and carted away goods and cash stacked inside those shops,” he decried.

When contacted for his reaction, Chief Nwabueze Umeh (Ofiafuluego) denied all allegations leveled against him by Anigbogu.

“Let him go and settle any issue he has with government and not me because government has constituted a caretaker committee in the market” he said.

Meanwhile, Anigbogu and his executive members have filed a pre-action notice in court and also petitioned relevant government agencies geared towards restoring their leadership.

Counsel to the Registered Trustees of Emordi Shoe Dealers Association, Chief Ugo Ugwunnadi filed a Suit at Onitsha High Court against Chief Friday Nwabueze Umeh and 13 others.

In the suit number 0/390/2025 through an Originating Summon, the plaintiffs are seeking among other reliefs sought, a declaration that the 1st plaintiff, being an Incorporated trustee under the Company and Allied Matters Act, CAMA , Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004, is not subject to the control of the government of Anambra state.

“A declaration that the 2nd to 9th plaintiffs were duly and validly elected on the 20th day of November 2025 to run the affairs and administration of the 1st plaintiff in accordance with the constitution of the 1st plaintiff.

“The sum of N50, 000,000 exemplary and punitive damages against the defendants, jointly and severally for acting without jurisdiction among others”