A group of traders at Agboedo United Market F Line Nnewi have taken to the streets to protest alleged extortion and intimidation by officials of the Nnewi North Local Government Area. The traders, who have been operating in the market for over 30 years, claim they are being subjected to unlawful levies and possible eviction.
According to eyewitnesses, the traders gathered at the market entrance, carrying placards with inscriptions such as " We are under peaceful protest, we are no longer happy" Explain the meaning of revalidation" "Stop Extortion Now" and "We Want Justice." They alleged that the local government chairman, Hon. Echezona Anazodo, and his cohorts have been collecting illegal levies from them to the tune of 20,000 aside from the government approved levies, with some traders demanded to pay as much as ₦4.5 million, and ₦5 Million for penalty for late payment.
One the traders, Mrs Agustina Azubuike lamented that despite their contributions to the market's growth, they have not received any support from the local government. Instead, they claim they are being harassed and intimidated by officials, who are threatening to evict them from the market.
She said " most of us have these shops as our retirement entitlement which we are using in our old age to buy medications for ourselves and wondered why they would be this mean to us." She called on governor Charles Soludo, the solution governor not to mind their gimmicks and nip in the bud, the threat and harrasment from those that want to put them in abject penury, because if allowed many will die out of frustration because they can't afford the high levy of 4.5 M being asked them to pay for these shops."
"We have built this market over the years, and now we are being asked to pay ₦5 million each for shops at the rice section of the market This is unacceptable," she said.
"We are calling on Governor Charles Soludo to intervene and stop this extortion. She asked are those widowed women at oduigbo also expected to pay the ₦20,000 for revalidation?
Other traders for fear of victimization who don't want their names on print, further asked, who owns the special account, 1910999891 at Access Bank with name BOLTEV NIG LTD, sighted by our correspondent, where over 360 shops in Ogbo rice are expected to pay in ₦4.5 million each totalling ₦1,620,000,000 billion naira. The traders are asking under which authority, law and order is the mayor requesting for this payment.
The traders said they are at loss, of the imposition of ₦20,000 for the revalidation of 2,200 shops to the tune of ₦44,000,000, and why it's being collected and why there is no receipt issued to that effect, and if the mayor is deliberately doing this to set up governor Charles Soludo for failure bearing in mind that this is an election year?
The traders have appealed to the governor to look into the matter and bring the alleged extortion to an end. They warn that if the situation persists, it may lead to a mass voter protest during upcoming elections.
They commended him for his efforts to transform Anambra, but said that his officials are making life miserable for them. They also asked that the mayor should focus his efforts on how to re claim the erosion menace ravaging the market and also do their internal roads, than setting up the government of Prof Charles Soludo against the traders and Ndi Anambra.
As at press time, no official statement has been released by the mayor of the local government, but our correspondent who went to witness the protest at the local government that turned into a solidarity rally for the mayor, gathered that they were cowed to endorse the mayor for fear of victimization against their earlier stand which was captured on video at the Agboedo United Market F Line Nnewi.
The protest has brought attention to the plight of traders in the market and the need for government intervention to address the issue. The traders hope that their voices will be heard and their grievances addressed.