By John Ikani
Soldiers on Tuesday prevented traders at the Timber and Building Materials markets in Orlu, Imo State, to open for the day’s business
Heritage Times gathered that the anger of the security agents stemmed from the fact that the traders chose not to open their shops on Monday as a result of the arraignment of IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, in Abuja.
Most of the traders in the two markets had on Monday refused to open their shops in solidarity with the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) Nnamdi Kanu, who is facing terrorism-related charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
Kanu was not arraigned, as the Department of State Services (DSS) failed to produce him in court.
A trader who spoke about the development to newsmen, said he was unable to access his shop on Tuesday when he came for the day’s engagement.
According to him: “On Monday, almost everybody didn’t open for business in solidarity with Nnamdi Kanu. As we came today, soldiers prevented us from opening the two markets. We didn’t even get into the markets because the gates to the building materials and Timber Market were under lock and key. The soldiers told us that we won’t be allowed to open shop till further notice.”
Meanwhile, the killing of Omuma DPO and six men suspected to be members of IPOB is also generating tension in Owerri, the Imo state capital.
They were killed when suspected IPOB members regrouped on Monday to launch attack on Omuma in Oru East local government area of the state before they were repelled.
For most of Tuesday, heavily armed policemen were seen patrolling major streets in the metropolis and its environs.
The Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Mike Abattam, was not available for comments.
