Igbokwe Claims Some Anambra Indigenes Support Banditry

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has said recent events surrounding the closure of the Onitsha Main Market suggest that some indigenes of Anambra State may be sponsoring banditry in the state.

THE WHISTLER reports that tension has continued to rise in Onitsha since Governor Chukwuma Soludo ordered the shutdown of the market on Monday over alleged compliance with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB)’s sit-at-home directive.

The closure has triggered protests by traders, leading to clashes with security operatives deployed to enforce the government’s directive.

Reacting in a statement on Wednesday night, Igbokwe alleged that the situation “is looking and sounding as if Anambra people are the ones hosting bandits, supporting their activities in the South-East, and sponsoring their murderous and criminal acts in the zone”.

He said Governor Soludo had drawn a clear line by insisting that traders must open the Onitsha Main Market on Mondays and go about their lawful business or face a one-week closure.

“This is where we are now in a state that has been the backbone of the South-East,” he said.

“We are all watching the drama as it develops. But this is a game the sponsors of mayhem will never win. Maybe the leaders of the market think they are above the law,” he added.

He further accused the market leadership of aligning with IPOB, alleging that “through their actions and deeds, they are showing that they are fully IPOB commanders and sponsors.”