Onitsha Beer Market Crisis: Traders Protest Alleged ₦20,000 Security Levy, Harassment and Market Takeover

By Chukwudi Ebele | September 19, 2026

Onitsha, Anambra State — Tension escalated at the Onitsha Beer Dealers Market, also known as Nwaugo Beer Dealers Market, on Saturday, September 19, 2026, as traders took to the streets to protest alleged exploitation, intimidation, harassment and the imposition of unauthorized levies by a man claiming ownership of the market.

The traders accused Ifeanyi Franklin Okeke (Venus) of forcibly taking control of the market, imposing a monthly security levy of ₦20,000 per shop and using security personnel to prevent them from accessing their businesses.

The protest followed the alleged closure of the market gates, leaving traders unable to open their shops unless they paid the compulsory levy.

Carrying placards with inscriptions such as “No to Illegal Levy,” “Government Should Come to Our Rescue,” “Market Is Not Meant to Be Owned by an Individual,” and “An Individual Has Been Collecting Government Revenue from December 2025 Till Date,” the protesters called on the Anambra State Government to intervene in the ongoing dispute.

Former Market Chairman: “We Built This Market from the Scratch”

Addressing journalists during the protest, the former chairman of the market, Sir Augustine Nnabuife, narrated the history of the market and questioned Okeke’s alleged claim of ownership.

According to Nnabuife, the Anambra State Government allocated the land to the traders in 1998 after payments and documentation had been completed.

“Anambra State Government gave us land here in 1998 after some payments, receipts and documentation. We obtained a Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) and started building structures and shops, after which the Anambra State Government came and commissioned the market in 1999 under the administration of His Excellency Wing Commander Emmanuel Uwakwe Ukaegbu.”

Nnabuife said the traders were surprised when their former caretaker chairman, Mr Moses Umeh, introduced Franklin Okeke as the purported new owner of the market.

“We said, how can that be when the association, which is registered with the CAC, has the documents of the market as belonging to the traders?”

He maintained that the traders had an agreement with the Onitsha South Local Government Area regarding the payment of government revenue and had consistently fulfilled their obligations since 1998.

Nnabuife stated that the traders paid ₦17,400 per shop in 2024 following a revenue increase, while the 2025 charges rose to ₦32,000, comprising ₦12,000 for the local government and ₦20,000 for the state government.

“All the shops in this market have allocation papers from Onitsha South LGA,” he added.

Traders Allege Daily Extortion and Imposition of New Levies

The former chairman alleged that the traders’ challenges began after Franklin Okeke purportedly declared himself the owner of the market and introduced a daily security levy of ₦1,000 per shop.

He further alleged that security personnel were used to intimidate traders who opposed the new arrangements.

“Last year, Franklin Okeke came with some policemen to arrest some traders in the market, who ended up in a correctional centre for almost two months before they were granted bail by the court.”

Nnabuife also accused Okeke of collaborating with former caretaker chairman Moses Umeh to remove signboards bearing the name “Nwaugo Beer Market” and replace them with “Ihioma Beer Market.”

He claimed that the traders had previously protested at the Government House in Awka around March 2026, submitting petitions to Governor Chukwuma Soludo, but had yet to receive a response.

According to him, Okeke subsequently announced that the security levy would increase from the alleged daily collection of ₦1,000 to ₦20,000 monthly per shop, beginning in September 2026.

Market Closure Sparks Fresh Protest

Nnabuife alleged that on Friday, September 18, Okeke arrived at the market with armed individuals and threatened to lock the premises.

He claimed that the market gates were subsequently locked on Saturday, September 19, preventing traders from accessing their shops.

“If you have five shops, you have to pay ₦100,000 for you to enter the market,” he alleged.

The former chairman further claimed that Okeke took control of the market’s central office, removed existing staff and introduced new personnel who issued receipts bearing the name “Ihioma Beer Market.”

He also alleged that a new group of security personnel loyal to Okeke had been deployed to the market.

Traders Raise Concerns Over Truck-Offloading Charges

Nnabuife alleged that each trailer bringing goods into the market was required to pay ₦50,000 to offload, separate from the daily internally generated revenue (IGR) collected by the state government at the market park.

He claimed that the alleged charges had discouraged some drivers from bringing goods to the market, creating additional financial difficulties for traders.

“All these are frustrating us and making life very difficult for the Beer Dealers Market traders,” he said.

He also alleged that the market’s name was changed to Ihioma Beer Market in January 2026 and that the matter was reported to the Onitsha South Local Government Area.

According to him, Okeke was instructed in the presence of the traders to remove the new signboards, but the traders received no further update from the local government.

Nnabuife further alleged that Okeke had boasted of having influence over government officials and judges. These claims were not independently verified.

Traders Appeal to Governor Soludo for Intervention

Nnabuife called on Governor Chukwuma Soludo, the Commissioner for Commerce, Hon. Nonso Chukwuma Ebonwu, the Mayor of Onitsha South, Hon. Emeka Orji, and other relevant authorities to intervene.

“Today, being Saturday, many may find it difficult to provide weekend food for their families because we have been locked out of our own market.”

He alleged that Okeke had made statements suggesting that no prominent individual in Anambra State could challenge his purported ownership of the market.

The allegations remain unverified, and the claims regarding ownership and government documentation require confirmation from the relevant authorities.

Traders Describe Alleged Financial Burden and Intimidation

Mrs Cordelia Edimobi, another trader, alleged that Okeke had demanded as much as ₦600,000 per shop and introduced several other charges.

“Before Okeke hijacked this Beer Dealers Market, we were paying ₦1,200 monthly for security levy. But today, he locked the market, saying that no one would enter the market or open his or her shop without paying the ₦20,000 monthly levy per shop,” she alleged.

Edimobi also accused Okeke’s security personnel of harassing traders and claimed that he had boasted about his ability to retain control of the market.

Another trader, Gladys Onwumelu, expressed concern over what she described as the alleged takeover of a market built through the collective efforts of traders.

“I have not seen where a single individual bought a whole market built by the masses and subdued those who built the market as slaves. Ndi Anambra, illustrious sons and daughters, please speak up for us and help us.”

Elderly Trader Appeals Against Alleged Threats

Elder Donatus Njesu, a former chairman of the market’s works committee, alleged that the dispute had created fear among traders and could lead to violence.

“I am over 70 years old, but I cannot sleep now because all my shops, which I suffered to build since 1998 throughout all these years and left as inheritance to my children, have been taken away from me without notice.”

Njesu appealed to Governor Soludo to protect the traders, alleging that their lives had been threatened with weapons.

“Governor Chukwuma Soludo, please save our souls from this bondage. Our lives are threatened with guns and machetes almost daily by one man from Imo State,” he lamented.

The allegations of threats and weapons have not been independently confirmed.

Traders Narrate Alleged Arrest and Court Proceedings

Iwuchukwu Ogugua and Maduabuchi Ibe, who described themselves as victims of alleged intimidation and harassment, recounted their experience with the police and the courts.

They claimed that they and Mr Owen Agu were invited to the police in Awka on July 15 for questioning, but were subsequently arrested, charged with four offences and remanded in custody for seven weeks.

“We were arrested, taken to court, slammed with a four-count charge and remanded in prison custody for seven weeks just for challenging him to prove to us how he purchased a whole market built by the traders,” they alleged.

The duo stated that the matter remained before the court, with a subsequent hearing scheduled for February 15, 2027. The specific charges and court records were not independently verified for this report.

No Response from Accused Parties at Time of Filing

Attempts to obtain comments from Franklin Ifeanyi Okeke and Moses Umeh were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.

The allegations made by the traders, including claims concerning ownership, levies, intimidation, revenue collection and legal proceedings, remain subject to verification and responses from the accused parties and relevant government authorities.

The traders are calling for government intervention, clarification of the market’s ownership status and an end to what they describe as unlawful levies and harassment.

Suggested Social Media Hook

BREAKING: Tension at Onitsha Beer Market as Traders Protest ₦20,000 Monthly Levy and Alleged Takeover

Traders at Onitsha’s Nwaugo Beer Dealers Market have protested the alleged imposition of a ₦20,000 monthly security levy per shop, market closure and intimidation by a man claiming ownership of the market. The traders are calling on Governor Chukwuma Soludo and relevant authorities to intervene.

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