Officials of the Anambra State Government, backed by the state security unit Operation Udo Ga Achi, code-named Agunechemba, have sealed more than 1,000 shops at the popular Bridgehead Drug Market Ogbogwu in Onitsha.
The enforcement action was reportedly due to alleged non-compliance with Governor Chukwuma Soludo’s directive suspending the Monday sit-at-home order across the state.
The operation began around 2:30 p.m. on Monday, March 16, as government officials, accompanied by security personnel, moved through the market, placing red “Sealed” labels on shops that remained closed. Shops that were open and trading were not affected. Some traders were seen making calls to inform shop owners whose stores had been locked.
Attempts to reach Chukwuleta Ndubuisi, chairman of Ogbogwu Market, for comment were unsuccessful due to network issues. Meanwhile, the President of the Ogbaru Main Market Traders Association, Ndubuisi Ochiogu, affirmed that traders had been complying with the directive to open on Mondays.
He noted that a joint monitoring team from the state government and Ogbaru Local Government Area had previously commended traders for their compliance, adding:
“We open our shops every Monday in line with Governor Soludo’s order, and more traders continue to respond positively.”
