Anambra Task Force Closes Over 1,000 Shops at Onitsha Drug Market

On Monday in Onitsha, Anambra State, government officials, together with the state security team known as Operation Udo Ga Achi, went through the Bridgehead Drug Market, also called Ogbogwu Market, and closed more than 1,000 shops.

The closures were carried out because some shop owners were reportedly not following the directive from Governor Chukwuma Soludo that ended the Monday sit-at-home order in the state.

The operation started around 2:30 p.m., with officials moving through the market and placing red “Sealed” labels on shops that were found closed. Shops that were already open for business were not affected.

Some traders were seen calling other shop owners to inform them about the closures. Efforts to reach the chairman of the market for comment were not successful due to network issues.

Officials from the state government and the Ogbaru Local Government had earlier visited the market to check compliance and had noted that many traders were following the order to open their shops on Mondays.

Traders said they have continued to respond to the directive and operate their shops accordingly.

The exercise comes as part of ongoing efforts by the state government to ensure that market activities follow official directives and maintain order in public spaces.