Sit-at-Home Crackdown: Soludo Shuts Onitsha Main Market for One Week

In a decisive move to enforce compliance with Anambra State Government’s directive against the controversial Monday sit-at-home order, Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo has ordered the immediate closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week in the first instance.

The shutdown follows repeated defiance by traders at the popular commercial hub, who refused to open for business despite clear government warnings to disregard the sit-at-home order imposed by non-state actors. The sit-at-home directive, which has disrupted economic and social activities across the South-East for several years, has been strongly condemned by the Soludo administration. The government has consistently urged residents to carry on with their lawful activities without fear, assuring them of adequate security.

Governor Soludo warned that the closure would be extended if traders fail to comply after the one-week shutdown. According to him, the market will be shut for one month and possibly longer if defiance continues. He described the action as a necessary step to protect law-abiding citizens and reinforce the authority of the state, stressing that the government cannot allow a few individuals to undermine public safety and openly disregard official directives aimed at restoring normal economic activities. Following the directive, security operatives, including personnel of the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, and other agencies, were immediately deployed to seal the market gates and ensure full compliance with the order.