Traders at Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State resumed business on Monday following a one-week closure imposed amid warnings over a sit-at-home order allegedly linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The market had shut down last week after some traders reportedly complied with a Monday sit-at-home directive circulating on social media. Governor Chukwuma Soludo had cautioned that further closures could attract tougher sanctions.
By 8:45 a.m., traders reopened shops across key areas of the market, including Egerton Road, Ose Foodstuff Market, Young Park, Sokoto Road, Lagos Line, Marine, and Emeka Offor Plaza, with customers gradually returning and business activities resuming.
While IPOB had earlier called for a regional lockdown in solidarity with traders, the group’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, dismissed the directive as fake and urged the public to ignore it.
The Anambra State Police Command also warned residents against falling for online misinformation from non-state actors, describing such messages as attempts to cause fear and disrupt public order.
Police confirmed that security patrols and surveillance have been stepped up to safeguard lives and property as the market reopens. Residents were advised to rely on verified information and report suspicious activity to the authorities.
