Ben Ezechime, Enugu
Serious riots have broken out in Enugu over protest by the Ogbete Market Traders over Mondays closure of 78 shops by Gov. Peter Mbah-led administration for failing to obey the ban on sit-at-home in the state.
Ikengaonline reports that the Mbah administration closed over 100 shops in Ogbete and other parts of the city including two banks inside the market and requested their owners to produce a tax clearance certificate and other documents before reopening them after one week.
However, in a Spontaneous reaction on Wednesday morning all the traders in the market embarked on mass protest.
Reports and unverified video clips showed a young man allegedly killed by bullet from a security operative for attempting to remove Peter Mbah’s billboard at the entrance of the Market.
The incident led to more hullabaloo as the protesters went wild calling for the governor’s removal shouting “Peter Mbah must go,” Peter Mbah must go,” Peter Mbah must go!”
Traders at the market had decided to close their shops on Wednesday in solidarity with their colleagues whose shops were locked.
A trader, Mr Ebenezer Mbachi, wondered why the government decided to be insensitive to the plight of the people.
“What has sit-at-home got to do with his governance of Enugu State. He will continue to fight this fight unless he leaves us alone,” Mbachi said.