Anambra: There’re kidnappers’ hideouts in Ogidi/Ogbunike Market, traders tell Soludo

Tony Okafor, Awka

Traders in Anambra State have raised the alarm that there are kidnappers’ hideouts at a building material market in Ogidi/Ogbunike, in the Idemili North Local Government Area of the state.

They lamented the increasing rate of crime perpetrated on the expressway, right in front of the market by kidnappers, hard drug dealers and robbers.

The traders stated this on Wednesday during the inauguration of interim caretaker committees of Building Materials International Market Zone 2/3 Ogidi/Ogbunike; Matchet Line Association Main Market Onitsha; and Stationery, Paper and Computer Dealers Association, Onitsha.

They said, “All the shanties erected along the entrance gate and walls of the market are not owned by traders, but are shelters where the hoodlums operate from.

The traders called on the state governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, to intervene as a matter of urgency by demolishing the makeshift structures on the Expressway right in front of the market in order to curb the constant menace of criminals in the area.

Speaking during the occasion, the new chairman of Building Materials International Market Zone 2/3 Ogidi/Ogbunike, Mr Onyebuchi Adinu, hailed the efforts of the State government in making market environments clean and conducive for commercial activities to thrive.

The Special Assistant to the governor on Commerce and Industry , Eloka Maduekwe urged the new executives to take care of the market and ensure that the interests of both traders and state government were protected.

The SA assured the traders that the state government would respond to their requests.

Inaugurating the market executive on behalf of the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Dr Obinna Ngonadi, the Chief Commercial Officer of the Ministry, Mrs Jossy Eboh-Nwosu reminded the executive that being leaders did not make them kings over others but servants.

She urged them to be humble in their leadership and to work in harmony with the government to build and modernize the market.