The Enugu State Government has reacted to the protests in the state over the closure of businesses by the administration.
POLITICS NIGERIA reports that the government blamed “dangerously armed hoodlums and miscreants” for the violence that broke out during the protest by traders in the Ogbete Main Market on Wednesday.
The protest stemmed from the state government’s decision to seal off the shops of traders who had refused to open for business on Mondays in compliance with the illegal sit-at-home order by a faction of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The state government said that the protest was infiltrated by the hoodlums, who broke into shops and looted goods. They also said that the hoodlums violently resisted attempts by security operatives to restore order.
The government called on the people and residents of Enugu to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses, as adequate security measures are in place to secure lives and property in the State.
The statement also said that the state government is receiving further briefings on the development, adding that investigation to unravel the circumstance surrounding the incident, including the reports of casualty, is already ongoing.
This newspaper earlier reported that at least two people have been killed in the violence.
Recall that the state government had earlier warned that it would seal off the shops of those who refuse to open business on Mondays in the name of sit-at-home.
The full statement reads:
ENUGU STATE GOVERNMENT
PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT
THE INCIDENT AT OGBETE MAIN MARKET
The Enugu State Government received with grave concern the ugly incident at Ogbete Main Market, Enugu, today.
Information available to Government shows that traders whose shops were sealed for non-compliance with Government’s order banning Monday sit-at-home, defied the instruction on how the shops should be re-opened and resorted to self-help by removing the seals.This led to internal squabbles between the market leadership and some of the affected traders.
The ensuing confrontation resulted in a protest, which was infiltrated and hijacked by dangerously armed hoodlums and miscreants, who broke shops and looted traders’ wares. Attempt by security operatives to restore order and prevent further looting was violently resisted by the imported and armed hoodlums. Government is receiving further briefings on the development.
In the meantime, investigation to unravel the circumstance surrounding the incident, including the reports of casualty, is already ongoing.
Government calls on the people and residents of Enugu to remain calm and go about their lawful businesses, as adequate security measures are in place to secure lives and property in the State.
SIGNED:
Professor Chidiebere Onyia
Secretary to the State Government
Wednesday, July 26, 2023
