Outrage as Demolition Leaves Thousands of Onitsha Traders Counting Losses

By Orbit News 24 | April 1, 2026

Thousands of traders at the Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State have been left devastated after a late-night demolition exercise by the state government destroyed shops and goods worth millions of naira.

The demolition, which affected about 25 shop lines and an estimated 10,000 traders, was carried out in the early hours of Sunday, March 1, 2026. Bulldozers reportedly moved into the market around 1 a.m., reducing structures to rubble before sunrise, without giving shop owners the opportunity to retrieve their goods.

Eyewitnesses described scenes of shock and helplessness as traders watched their means of livelihood being destroyed.

Chairman of the Onitsha Main Market Stakeholders Forum, Chief Martin Omereonye, said he lost three shops stocked with goods valued at over ₦100 million. He expressed deep distress over the incident, noting that he had not returned to the site since the demolition due to the emotional toll.

Omereonye and other stakeholders argued that the demolished shops were not illegal, insisting they were originally constructed by past state and local governments over 35 years ago and duly allocated to traders with official documentation.

They criticized the administration of Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, for declaring the structures illegal, stressing that government policies should maintain continuity rather than invalidate past decisions.

The traders also revealed that prior to the demolition, they had appealed to several prominent individuals and authorities in the state, including business mogul Prince Arthur Eze, religious leaders, and government officials, in a bid to halt the exercise. However, they claimed their appeals were ignored.

As an alternative, the stakeholders had proposed a phased relocation plan for other markets to create space for redevelopment, suggesting that such an approach would have minimized economic disruption. They lamented that the rejection of this proposal has now resulted in widespread hardship.

Another affected trader and former Chairman of the Onitsha Main Market Traders Association, Chief Innocent Ezeoha, said he lost six shops and goods worth about ₦150 million. He disclosed that he had earlier advised against the modernization plan, warning it would worsen the economic situation of traders.

Ezeoha added that the demolition has forced his family into hardship, with his children reportedly out of school due to financial constraints.

Other traders also voiced concerns over the broader implications of the demolition, warning that the loss of livelihoods could lead to increased social challenges, including crime and economic instability.

One trader, Nwabufo Ikenna Okeke-Oguno, said he lost his only shop with goods valued between ₦70 million and ₦80 million, describing the situation as catastrophic for thousands of affected families.

The demolition has sparked growing tension and debate across Anambra State, with calls for government intervention and support for displaced traders intensifying.

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