Onitsha traders take market dispute to IGP after plaza demolition
- Modebe traders in Onitsha want the Inspector-General of Police to step into a two-year leadership and property dispute.
- They say a plaza where some members traded was demolished in 2025, and they want the ownership documents checked.
- The traders also link the row to the Anambra government's removal of some market leaders.
Traders at Modebe market in Onitsha, Anambra State, have asked the Inspector-General of Police to wade into a dispute over who leads the market, who owns some of its property, and the demolition of commercial buildings.
They made the appeal at a news conference in Abuja on Tuesday, saying the row has dragged on for about two years and is hurting their businesses.
Chief Okey Muojekwu, who spoke for the traders, said a plaza where some members ran their shops was pulled down in 2025. Those traders, he said, had put money into the property.
He said the association also wants clarity on who owns the land and buildings, and whether the documents tied to them are genuine. He asked the authorities to look at the papers and settle the facts.
Muojekwu also raised concern about security, saying he had reported an alleged physical attack to the police and wants it investigated.
Why the market row matters
Modebe is a busy trading hub, and a long fight over leadership and shops can cost ordinary traders their stock, their space and their daily income.
The chairman of the market association, Mr Tochukwu Umeh, said the crisis is partly tied to the Anambra State Government's decision to remove some market leaders. Some of those removed challenged the decision, arguing that traders had elected them.
"We believe leaders elected by traders should be allowed to serve," Umeh said, adding that the fight has slowed down how the market is run and soured relations among members.
A patron of the market, Mr Onyeka Oguejiofor, said members are also worried about how shop occupancy is handled and how changes in leadership are made.
He said the traders have already gone to the Commissioner of Police, the Police Public Relations Officer and market association officials. They have also met government officials in charge of trade and commerce.
"We have explored all available channels to seek peace. What we want is a lasting solution that protects our businesses," Oguejiofor said.
The traders are asking the police and the state government to bring the parties to the table, look into the issues they raised and protect everyone's rights.
They hope that will end the dispute peacefully and let business return to normal at Modebe.