Some soldiers manning a checkpoint on Tuesday reportedly prevented traders at the Timber and Building Materials markets in Orlu, Imo State, from opening for the day’s business.
Recall that most of the traders at the two markets had on Monday refused to open their shops in solidarity with the Supreme Leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, who is facing trial at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The soldiers, who were angered by the development barred the traders from opening their shops for any commercial activity.
According to PUNCH, the traders revealed that the soldiers ordered the security men in the markets not to open the entrance gates.
While the soldiers continued with their stop-and-search duty in front of the markets, traders who came as early as 7am met the entrance gates under lock and key.
When the traders expressed anger at the development, the soldiers told them to go home until further notice.
The Chairman of the Building Materials Market, Emmanuel Ibegbulem, who confirmed the development to PUNCH via the telephone said he was on his way to the state Ministry of Commerce and Industry to resolve the issue.
When contacted, the spokesman for the 34 Artillery Brigade Command, Obinze Owerri, Captain Babatude Zubiruo, said that he was not aware of the development.
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