Market crisis : Traders allegedly hold Onitsha drug market chairman hostage

….. Rescued by Police Area Commander

… false, we only blocked his office-traders

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

The chairman of Onitsha drug (Ogbogwu) market, Bridge head, Anambra State, Chukwuleta Ndubuisi, was in the early morning held hostage by aggrieved traders  who claimed the chairman kidnapped their member, Uche Obiorah, and his wife, and demanded for their immediate release and sack of the Chairman for allegedly not rendering account of stewardship since he assumed office.

Ndubuisi who narrated his ordeal to newsmen was said to have been held hostage for about four hours by the aggrieved traders under the aegis of “Concerned and Genuine Members of Ogbogwu market, Bridge head, Onitsha.

 “A trader in the market called me and told me that his shop was locked up by the taskforce and I told him I am on my way to the market to know why they should lock up his shop. 

“On arrival at the market I was told that some traders who I am fighting for dealing in fake/counterfeit drugs were protesting and vowed to kill me if they see me.

“That they were shouting, ‘Ndubuisi a thief,’ (Onye Ohi), and as I was approaching my office I heard them shouting Ndubuisi a thief, and I took the back door to the upstairs because they locked the main gate. 

“As I was climbing the stairs, from the back door, one of them saw me and shouted that I have come and rushed to hold me but withdrew to call others.

“They then locked the back door, protesting and ringing bell that I must remain hostage until I release their member and wife I Kidnapped. 

“This their member and wife were arrested by the police and not me over fakery. I started making calls to Commissioner of police, and others because I was held hostage.

“Even my treasurer, secretary and others they did not allow them to come to the office as they locked everywhere and for more than four hours I was held hostage until the Onitsha police Area Commander, Chidi Nzota, came and rescued me.

“These are few people who are formenting trouble in the market because I am fighting them for dealing in fake drugs. They say I refuse to render account when the government that installed me has not asked me to render account.

“Since NAFDAC shut the market for about three months over fakery and reopened it, they have intensified their war against me, portraying frivolous allegations to tarnish my image because what they want is for me to be removed so that they will continue with dealing in fake drugs,” he stated.

In a swift reaction when contacted, the leader of the Concerned  and Genuine Members of Ogbogwu  Market, Bridge head, Chibueze Ifejiofor, denied all the allegations leveled against the group by Ndubuisi, stating that they only blocked the gate and that Ndubuisi kidnapped the wife of their member and their member, Uche Obiorah, when he (Ndubuisi), came to their shop to demand for payment of a levy which the wife refused stating that it was illegal.

 Ifejiofor who was flanked by Stephen Elum and other members of the group said, “We are the members of ‘Justice for Ogbogwu,’ Ndubuisi refused to render account of stewardship since he assumed office, he continues to extort us, demanding various extortions, ranging from transformer levy, security, among others.

“use security, especially police to arrest perceived enemies or those who oppose his bad leadership. So we urge governor Soludo to remove him and conduct an election or at worse, appoint a caretaker committee because the extortion is much and he refused to render account of stewardship. He said he can’t render account to us but to government. We are the one that make payment,” he stated.

Sounding note of warning to the warring parties, the Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr. Chidi Nzota, said, “What we want is peace and I will not tolerate violence. For about seven months I was transferred to this place peace has been restored and anybody who wants to breach the peace will be dealt with.