Traders Pray For Release Of Abducted Market Chairman

By Julie Sylvia, Onitsha

Traders in Onitsha and environs have commenced fervent prayers in solidarity and release of mgbuka market Chairman Chief Enibe Francis,situated along Onitsha -Owerri road, Onitsha.

He was said to have been abducted by unknown gunmen who whisked him away in their waiting SUV to an unknown destination and has not been seen till date.

Reacting on the incidence, the chairman of Sokoto market, Onitsha, Hon. Emeka Eze, said that his abduction has resulted in fear gripping every market chairman.

“What happened was unfortunate, we have to embark on serious prayers for his release alive. Government should provide enough security to the markets if the Monday sanitation and prayer should continue because with the latest ugly development, fear has gripped traders.

“We are not happy with what happened, that our brother is being held. Government should do something because it means we are not save. Nnamdi Kanu should also be released for all these crimes to end.

“Vigilante group only can’t do this thing alone, there should be joint security operatives to face the fire power of the unknown gunmen because they don’t operate with pump action guns but military rifles like Ak47 guns and other sophisticated weapons,” he stated.

Contributing, the chairman of Haruna market, Chief Emmanuel Idoko, stated that to have picked the Mgbuka Amazun market chairman without any resistance from the market vigilante group or any other persons means that the security there is porous and not at an alert when the unknown gunmen stormed the market in question.

“We have security in my market and I am the Chief Security Officer, CSO, of ASMATA, we are asking the Governor to beef up security as this is a slight on the traders, it looks unbelievable that the market head was kidnapped. The governor is the one that asked us to do sanitation on Mondays, and open our shops. We discussed it with him during our last meeting at Awka and he assured us of provision of security. Markets suppose to have joint task force so that the traders will be determined.

“We did our Monday prayers and stayed throughout , when we got the call, we decided to rush to Mgbuka Amazu, we are asking for more security from the Governor, the thing also put fear on traders, my traders did not turn up after the incident, we are praying for the release of Nnamdi kanu, that is our prayer every Monday so that the crime will end.

“I don’t know why some people will be terrorizing the market, we believe that if Nnamdi Kanu is released, all these hoodlums will stop, if other things come up, then we know that they are criminals not freedom fighters,” he further added.

Also reacting, the chairman of Oniitsha Main market, Chief Innocent Ezeoha, stated that his market has embarked on fervent prayer for release of the abducted market chairman unharmed.

He urged that efforts be intensified by both government and individuals/ groups for release of Nnamdi Kanu to help curtail crimes and criminality in the Southeast geo-political zone.

Pic 1 shows Sokoto market chairman, Pic 2. Shows Haruna market chairman,