Protest rocks Onitsha Beer Market over alleged imposition of multiple levies, intimidation

…As traders petitions Gov Soludo for rescue

By Cyprian Ebele, Onitsha

Protest rocked Onitsha Nwaugo Beer Dealers Market, Anambra state, following alleged imposition of multiple levies, intimidation, harassment and locking up of shops of traders by Mr Franklin Okeke (a.k.a.Venus) who claimed to be the rightful sole owner of the market.

The aggrieved protesting  traders  some of who carried  placards with the inscriptions, “No to illegal levy, Soludo come to our rescue, market grabber has come to Onitsha beer market,

market not meant to be owned by an individual, an individual has been collecting market revenue from December 2025 till date,” among others, protested along the major streets.

They described the closure of their market by Okeke as unlawful and a slight on the state government that controls the entire markets  in the state lamenting that Okeke boasted that  he has the state government in his finger tips.

They accused Okeke of imposition of multiple levies that include a compulsory #20,000 levy for each shop as monthly security before the shops will be reopened for them.

Fielding questions from newsmen during the protest, a former Chairman of the Beer Market, Augustine Nnabuife traced the history of the market to when they were allocated the market by the state government and they (traders)built the shops, wondering how Okeke emerged to claim ownership.

“We are surprised that Okeke who hails from another state emerged from nowhere to claim ownership of a full fledged market with over 500 shops under the supervision of the Anambra State government without any prior notice to the individuals that built the market from scratch.

“Anambra State Government gave us land here in 1998 after some payments, receipt and documentation. We obtained C of O and started building structures and shops after which the Anambra State

Government came and Commissioned the market in 1999 under the administration of the then Military governor of the state, His Excellency, Wing  Commander Emmanuel Uwakwe Ukaegbu.

“Sometime last year our former Caretaker Chairman, Mr  Moses Umeh, brought one Franklin Ifeanyi Okeke, saying that he was the new owner of the Onitsha Beer Dealers Market. We asked how can that be when the association which is registered with CAC has the documents of the market as belonging to the traders.

“We have an agreement with the Onitsha South LGA that we shall be paying every revenue due to the Local and State Government and we have been paying revenue since 1998. Even in 2024 when revenue/stallage was increased to #17,400 all the shops paid. In 2025 when it was increased to #32,000 (#12,000 to LGA and #20,000 State government) all the shops paid. All the shops in this market have allocation papers  from Onitsha South LGA.

“Our ordeal started when Franklin Okeke, after parading himself that he had purchased the Onitsha Beer Dealers Market from somewhere to become the sole owner of the market, imposed a daily levy of #1000 for each shop in the market, using armed security personnel to harass us.  

Last year Franklin Okeke came with some policemen to arrest some traders in the market who ended up in a Correctional Center for almost two months before they were granted bail by the court.

“Franklin Okeke collaborated with our Caretaker Chairman, Mr Moses Umeh and removed our sign boards bearing ‘Nwugo Beer market’ and substituted it and installed new sign boards bearing ‘Ihioma Beer Market’, threatening us with security agents.

” In our former protest at the Government house around March 2026 before Easter, we wrote some petitions to His Excellency, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, seeking his intervention but we were told he was outside the country. Ever since we have not gotten any response from the Government House.

“Franklin Okeke was not satisfied with the #1000 daily extortion in the guise of security levy for each shop, he pronounced on 20th August 2026  that from September 2026 every shop will be paying #20,000 monthly for security levy.

“Yesterday being September 18 Franklin Okeke came with armed thugs with pump-action guns saying that they will Lock up the market and this morning being September 19th they locked up the whole gates of the market demanding #20,000 for each shop as security levy. if you have five shops you have to pay #100,000 for you to enter the market.

“Moreover, since Franklin Okeke forcefully took over power, breaking into our Central Market office, he removed our own office staff, brought in new office girls with a different cash receipt  bearing

‘Ihioma Beer Market Cash receipt for his own collection. He also brought a new set of security men loyal to him.

“Each trailer now pays #50,000 to offload our goods inside the market which is different from the state government daily IGR in the market park. Many of the drivers have been scared away because of the heavy extortion and taxation.

All these are frustrating us , making life very difficult and miserable for the Beer Dealers Market traders.

“Also, Working in partnership with our former Caretaker Chairman, Mr Moses Umeh, in January this year Ifeanyi Franklin Okeke, he changed the name of the market to Ihioma Beer market. 

We reported to Onitsha South LGA, Okeke was told in our presence to remove the sign boards but we didn’t know what transpired because we didn’t hear from the LGA again,” alleged Nnabuife

” Franklin Okeke boasted that he had bought over everything, every office in government House and judges, including the Onitsha South LGA.

“We have written more than five different petitions to the Anambra State Government but without any response.We are pleading with Governor Chukwuma Soludo to come to our rescue. Let His Excellency,

Chukwuma Soludo (Oluatuegwu), Commissioner for Commerce , Hon Nonso Chukwuma Ebonwu, Onitsha South Mayor, Emeka Orji and other relevant authorities  intervene in this matter.

” Ifeanyi Franklin Okeke, from Ihioma, Imo State,  boasted that there is no person, (man enough), from Anambra State that can remove this Nwugo Beer market from his possession. Be it Emeka Offor, Arthur Eze n’Ukpo, nobody is capable of challenging him in the market,” Nnabuife lamented.

According to Mrs Cordelia Edimobi, a trader, “Ifeanyi Franklin Okeke said that each shop should pay #600, 000 and imposed several taxes on the traders, harassing us with his vigilante/security men. Boasting that there is no capable man in Anambra State that can take away the market from him.

“Before Okeke hijacked this Beer dealers Market we were paying #1,200 monthly for security levy but today he locked the market saying that no one would enter the market or open his or her shop without paying the #20,000 monthly levy pet shop,” she cried.

Another trader, Gladys Onwumelu, said, ” I have not seen where a single individual bought a whole market built by the masses and subdued those who built the market as slaves. Ndi Anambra, illustrious sons and daughters please come to our rescue, help us .Franklin Okeke said there is no person in Anambra capable, wealthy enough to reclaim the Onitsha Beer Dealers Market from him”.

Also Elder Donatus Njesu, former Market Committee Chairman on works alleged that “Mr Franklin Okeke has been provoking us to resort to violence but we don’t want bloodshed.

 ” I am over 70 years old but I cannot sleep now because all my shops I suffered to build since 1998 throughout all these years, which I left as inheritance to my children have been taken away from me without notice. Governor Chukwuma Soludo, please save our souls from this bondage. Our lives are threatened with guns and machetes almost on a daily basis by one man from Imo State,” he cried.

The duo of Iwuchukwu Ogugua and Maduabuchi Ibe, victims of the alleged intimidations and harassment by the new owner, narrated how they were arrested by police and remanded in prison custody, for challenging the Okeke to prove ownership of the Onitsha Beer Market.