Normalcy has gradually returned to Ogbete main market, the biggest market in Enugu State. Economic activities were disrupted on July 26, following a violent protest by some traders in the market whose shops were sealed on July 24, by the state government because they obeyed the sit-at-home order enforced by a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The traders had protested against the sealing of their shops by the state government. The protest which started at about Nine o’clock in the morning lasted for several hours, which affected trading activities, vehicular and human movement along the Market Road, Ogui Road, and adjoining Okpara Avenue.
It was alleged that those whose shops were sealed attempted to force traders, whose shops were not sealed, to close theirs and the entire market and join in the protest, which was allegedly hijacked by hoodlums. Violence became the order of the day. Security operatives were drafted to the market to disperse the rioters. A trader lost his life after allegedly being shot by the Police.
Addressing representatives of the market on Wednesday, August 9, the chairman of Ogbete Main Market Traders Association, Chief Stephen Aniagu expressed happiness that the market was booming again after the unfortunate incident. According to him, what happened on Wednesday, July 26, which disrupted the activities of the traders was very unfortunate and avoidable.
“ Remember that the governor had on Monday, July 17, visited the market during which he spoke about the illegality of observing the illegal sit-at-home order by a section of the IPOB. The governor also spoke to traders in other markets. He also held a meeting with stakeholders in the state and was supported by all. He directed that those who failed to open their shops on Monday, July 24, would have their shops sealed. The aim of the government was to grow the economy of the state.
“It was on Monday, July 24 that a team led by Prof. Chidiebere Onyia, SSG, came to Ogbete market to know whether we complied with the governor’s directive or not.”
Chief Aniagu said he made effort through many Radio stations, to sensitize and educate on the need to support the government of the state on the ban on sit-at-home, by opening their shops on Mondays.
“During the radio programmes many questions were raised by listeners from all parts of the state and the callers agreed with me that the sit-at-home should be jettisoned as it has hindered the progress of the state in the past two years. Even before the SSG and his team arrived at the market on that fateful day, I had visited all the corners of the market, pleading with the traders to open their shops, to avoid a repeat of what happened during the COVID-19 lock down when the market was closed down for failing to obey the rules of COVID-19.
During that period, the market was locked down due to disobedience and some market leaders used the opportunity to enrich themselves through sharp practices.
It was a devastating experience and I didn’t want history to repeat itself. That was why I went round the market , appealing to them to open their shops for businesses on Mondays.”
Despite his efforts, about 75 shops, whose owners failed to comply, were sealed by the team led by Chidiebere Onyia, a professor and Secretary to the State Government, SSG. The sealing of the shops was done by the state government, and not by the leadership of the market.
It was the SSG and his team that sealed thes shops whose owners did not open for business on Monday, July 24. I even pleaded on behalf of the defaulters, but the team said I have done my bit by going to Radio stations for six days, to appeal to the traders to listen to the governor.
“The government team, however, encouraged defaulters with cogent reasons to meet me for clearance. Some people came with genuine reasons and I took their shop numbers and informed the SSG, who in turn directed me to somebody in the Enugu Capital Territory.
“I was asked to put everything in writing, which I did and later took one of the defaulters to the capital territory for clearance. I have the documents. Go to the market and inquire whether I have ever shortchanged any trader, or collected any fine from those whose shops were sealed.”
Chief Aniagu told the traders that the violent protest and loss of life would have been averted if the chief security officer of the market, Mr. Ezebinagu Justus Kasie had not played the role of a spoiler.
“We didn’t know he had a hidden agenda. He was the mastermind of the ugly incident. He was the person that removed the sealed papers on the night of Tuesday, July 25. I never authorized him
to do so. I cannot disobey the government’s directive. This young man had an ulterior motive, that was why he embarked on the mission of removing all the papers used to seal the shops. His ulterior motive manifested on Wednesday, July 26, as he brought hoodlums who eventually overwhelmed the real traders, which resulted in the crisis and unfortunate loss of life.”
According to the chairman, Ezebinagu Kasie wanted to extort from the victims of that circumstance, but because he opposed the move, he (Kasie) allegedly hired hoodlums to cause havoc.
“They had access to my office and carted away three Plasma television sets, fire extinguishers donated by the former governor, took away chairs, destroyed other items, carted away 25 bags of rice one organisation wanted to use for its promo. The hoodlums came with dangerous weapons like hammers and pliers, to show you that they planned the looting.
The looting and destruction of properties in my office was not done by those people whose shops were sealed. It was the handiwork of Ezebinagu and his gang, just to undermine my leadership. And to show you that he was the mastermind of the crisis, nothing was taken away or destroyed in his office. His plan was to use the miscreants he hired to manhandle me. I was in the office the first time they came. I had to make calls to security agents, government house and other relevant bodies, for them to rescue the situation.”
Chief Aniagu said what Ezebinagu and his gang looted and destroyed would cost more than N7 Million to replace. “It was an organized crime perpetrated by Ezebinagu, former chief security officer. The miscreants he employed and some
disgruntled elements in the market. I have been in the market for over 30 years, and built a reputation that has not been faulted.”
Ezebinagu has since been replaced with Chidiebere Ani, as new chief security officer. However, The Enugu State Police Command has arraigned and remanded in prison custody Ezebinagu Kasie, 45; Eze Patrick, 53; Friday Ani, 47 and Ogbu Jude Nkem, 37, on three counts charge. Ezebinagu accused the
Enugu North local government chairman, Hon. Onunze and Aniagu did not act promptly to avert the riot.
He also exonerated himself from the
fracas, looting and destruction of properties in the office of the chairman.
Incarcerated CSO narrates ordeal
The Chief Security Officer of Ogbete Main Market Enugu, Ezebinagu Kasie also shed light into what really transpired at the market which led to the death of at least one trader and the destruction of property at the office of the market chairman.
The CSO was accused of being the mastermind behind the protest against government directives and was subsequently arrested, arraigned and remanded in prison custody.
In an interview the CSO who shared his experience prior to his remand denied the accusation, alleging that he was being framed up.
“My name is Ezebinagu Kasie Justus. I’m a native of Ogor Affa in Udi Local Government Area of Enugu State. I’m a trader at Ogbete Main Market Enugu. I trade on stockfish. I’m also the current Chief Security Officer (CSO) of Ogbete market.
“I want to give a proper account of what sparked the violent protest that has put Ogbete market in panic since Wednesday morning of the 26th of July, 2023.
“On the 17th July, 2023, His Excellency, Dr Peter Ndubisi Mbah, the Executive Governor of Enugu State visited the markets in the state including Ogbete for sensitization on the importance of coming to the market on Mondays. The governor begged the traders to come out en masse on the next Monday. The governor also promised to provide adequate security, which he did.
“On the 24th of July, 2023, the SSG accompanied by the Enugu Capital Territory Development Authority (ECTDA) came to the market to enforce the sealing of the defaulters’ shops and they sealed 57 shops on that day.
“As the sealing was going on, traders started calling some of their colleagues who were not around and so many traders of Ogbete came out and opened their shops including some that were sealed.
“I was in my shop throughout that Monday; I opened my three shops so that traders near me will have the confidence to open their own shops, and about 50 shops were opened in my zone. That was what my governor wanted to achieve.
“After closing my shop at about 5pm, I went to our office, Ogbete Main Market Traders Association (OMMTA), and met my boys to know how the whole process went. They told me everything and we patrolled the market and found out that some of the seals have been removed.
“On the 24th of July, Tuesday, the OMMTA Chairman called me and told me not to allow anyone to go into the shops that were sealed and I told him that the seals had been removed and it will be difficult for us to know the actual shops that were sealed. So, he said okay; that he knew that the seals were removed. I told him that for the banks, that it was only Fidelity Bank that had a seal.
“At about 3pm on same Tuesday, the local government chairman of Enugu North called me and asked me to go and eject the people that opened and occupied the shops that were sealed by the governor. But I advised him that it will not be good; that it will trigger problems in the market. He then asked me to go and meet with the OMMTA Chairman.
“I went to our office and met the chairman on the matter. He repeated what the Local Government Chairman said and I also advised him that it will not be a good idea. He now brought out two pieces of papers and handed them to me and said that those shop numbers are the defaulters. The shops were 57 in number. He gave me N15,000 through our cleaner in the office.
“I gave one of my boys the money to go and buy padlocks, he bought 5 dozen of them. The chairman asked me to lock the whole shops with the inscription: “Locked and sealed by the Enugu State Government by OMMTA Chairman,” he gave me.
“We locked the shops and told him that they had been locked.
“In the morning of Wednesday, I called my chairman to remind him that their shops were locked yesterday (Tuesday) and he told me to tell them to wait till 10am and I told him that he should make it earlier.
“I arrived at the market around 7:00 am that Wednesday. At about 8:00 am, my security guys who were in the field told me that some people that have shops at that place were gathering, I quickly called my chairman to inform him and he said he was coming. I called the DSS officer in charge of Enugu North and also called the DPO CPS.
“The gathering was increasing and I called my chairman back to inform him again and he said he was close. When he came to the office, he asked me to give him the list of the defaulters and I gave it to him and he told me to follow him down to the market and he started ringing the bell to gather the traders to address them.
“After addressing the first group, we went down again but the people were not listening and I advised him that we move to the office, by then the police had arrived and the protesters were peaceful until the armoured tank came and shot someone.
This is my story on what happened at Ogbete (market).
Since that Wednesday, I have been in the police custody till date without having any knowledge of why they want to tag me enemy of the state.
Ezebinagu, the Ogbete market CSO and three others were eventually secretly arraigned in a Magistrate court and remanded in the correctional centre.
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