Officials of the Anambra State Government, alongside the state security outfit Operation Udo Ga Achi, also known as Agunechemba, have shut down over 1,000 shops at the well-known Bridgehead Drug Market Ogbogwu.
The action was reportedly taken due to alleged disobedience to a directive issued by Chukwuma Soludo, which suspended the Monday sit-at-home order across the state.
The enforcement exercise began at about 2:30 p.m. on Monday, March 16, when officials, accompanied by security personnel, moved around the market sealing shops that were found closed. Red “Sealed” notices were placed on affected stores.
Shops that remained open and were actively operating were not targeted during the operation. Some traders present at the market were seen contacting shop owners to inform them that their shops had been locked by authorities.
Attempts to reach the chairman of the Ogbogwu Market, Chukwuleta Ndubuisi, were unsuccessful due to network difficulties.
Reacting to the situation, the President of the Ogbaru Main Market Traders Association, Ndubuisi Ochiogu, maintained that traders have been complying with the directive to open for business on Mondays.
He noted that a joint inspection team from the state government and Ogbaru Local Government had earlier visited the market and praised traders for their compliance level.
Ochiogu said: “We open our shops every Monday in compliance with Governor Soludo’s order, and more traders have continued to respond positively.”