Onitsha, the commercial hub of Anambra State erupted in violence on Wednesday when some youths believed to be members of MASSOB set ablaze a trailer and went on the rampage.
The situation was also compounded by the blocking of the Onitsha-Owerri expressway by traders at the Old Motor Parts Market, Mgbuka that were calling for the reopening of the market.
The youths, who went on the rampage, were reacting to the alleged killing of a member of staff of the Anambra State Transport Agency by occupants of the trailer, who they alleged were from the northern part of the country. The trailer was said to belong to a popular northern transporter and industrialist.
The action of the youths created panic among residents of the city and brought business and social activities to a halt.
Caught in the pandemonium were Northern indigenes resident in the city, who were seen scampering out to army and police barracks and across the bridge to neighbouring Asaba, Delta State for safety.
The exodus continued even after the police said they had taken control of the situation with the deployment of riot police and soldiers to the headbridge and Upper Iweka areas where the riots were concentrated.
The deceased ASTA official was said to have jumped into the trailer at Ihiala, some 65 kilometres, South East of Onitsha in a bid to do a check on the vehicle.
But the driver zoomed off with him in the vehicle and was only stopped as the vehicle made to cross the Niger Bridge at Onitsha by some ASTA officials who had been contacted about the Ihiala incident.
A search on the trailer was said to have led to the discovery of the bloodied corpse of the deceased.
The alarm raised at the discovery attracted the violent youths who instantly set the trailer ablaze and were about to kill the driver and his co-occupants. But the timely intervention of the police saved them.
The other incident was caused by a band of aggrieved traders from Mgbuka Market who blocked the Onitsha – Owerri expressway to protest what they alleged was the highhandedness of their leaders.
At the Mgbuka Market along Onitsha-Owerri Road, there was a traffic gnart several hours when traders blocked the major road in protest against the alleged highhandedness of the leadership of the market.
The market had remained closed on the alleged orders of the leadership of the market, who alleged that members of MASSOB had threatened to take over the market and collect revenue from traders.
The Old Motor Spare Parts, Mgbuka had remained closed this year due to the order. The protesting traders wanted the market reopened.
MASSOB’s Director of Information, Uchenna Madu, denied MASSOB involvement in the traders’ riot at Onitsha-Owerri Road, saying that it was purely traders’ affairs who he said had been deprived of means of their livelihood by the leadership of the market.
Madu also called on the state government to look into the cause of the riot and bring those behind the violent protests to book while calling on MASSOB members and Ndigbo to remain calm over the alleged killing of the ASTA operative.
The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, said the police and other security agencies were able to bring the situation under control.
Chukwuemeka pleaded with the people to go about their duties peacefully, saying police had enough capacity to protect them.
The situation was also compounded by the blocking of the Onitsha-Owerri expressway by traders at the Old Motor Parts Market, Mgbuka that were calling for the reopening of the market.
The youths, who went on the rampage, were reacting to the alleged killing of a member of staff of the Anambra State Transport Agency by occupants of the trailer, who they alleged were from the northern part of the country. The trailer was said to belong to a popular northern transporter and industrialist.
The action of the youths created panic among residents of the city and brought business and social activities to a halt.
Caught in the pandemonium were Northern indigenes resident in the city, who were seen scampering out to army and police barracks and across the bridge to neighbouring Asaba, Delta State for safety.
The exodus continued even after the police said they had taken control of the situation with the deployment of riot police and soldiers to the headbridge and Upper Iweka areas where the riots were concentrated.
The deceased ASTA official was said to have jumped into the trailer at Ihiala, some 65 kilometres, South East of Onitsha in a bid to do a check on the vehicle.
But the driver zoomed off with him in the vehicle and was only stopped as the vehicle made to cross the Niger Bridge at Onitsha by some ASTA officials who had been contacted about the Ihiala incident.
A search on the trailer was said to have led to the discovery of the bloodied corpse of the deceased.
The alarm raised at the discovery attracted the violent youths who instantly set the trailer ablaze and were about to kill the driver and his co-occupants. But the timely intervention of the police saved them.
The other incident was caused by a band of aggrieved traders from Mgbuka Market who blocked the Onitsha – Owerri expressway to protest what they alleged was the highhandedness of their leaders.
At the Mgbuka Market along Onitsha-Owerri Road, there was a traffic gnart several hours when traders blocked the major road in protest against the alleged highhandedness of the leadership of the market.
The market had remained closed on the alleged orders of the leadership of the market, who alleged that members of MASSOB had threatened to take over the market and collect revenue from traders.
The Old Motor Spare Parts, Mgbuka had remained closed this year due to the order. The protesting traders wanted the market reopened.
MASSOB’s Director of Information, Uchenna Madu, denied MASSOB involvement in the traders’ riot at Onitsha-Owerri Road, saying that it was purely traders’ affairs who he said had been deprived of means of their livelihood by the leadership of the market.
Madu also called on the state government to look into the cause of the riot and bring those behind the violent protests to book while calling on MASSOB members and Ndigbo to remain calm over the alleged killing of the ASTA operative.
The Anambra State Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Emeka Chukwuemeka, said the police and other security agencies were able to bring the situation under control.
Chukwuemeka pleaded with the people to go about their duties peacefully, saying police had enough capacity to protect them.
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