Police, soldiers take control as riots break out in Onitsha

Policemen and soldiers were yesterday deployed in Onitsaha following the outbreak of two riots in the city. Riots broke out at the old motor spare parts market, Mgbuka along the Onitsha-Owerri expressway and the Upper Iweka-Niger head bridge over an alleged abduction and killing of a worker of the Anambra State Traffic Agency (ASTA) by a transporter in Ihiala.

The Upper Iweka riot started when a driver was flagged down by the ASTA worker at a check-point in Ihiala but the driver refused to stop. The ASTA operative jumped into the moving trailer and the driver took off but was later found at the Upper Iweka-Head bridge with the body of the ASTA staffer. The sight of the corpse irked youths, who on hearing the news went on rampage and set the trailer ablaze while the driver was saved by soldiers who took him away in their vehicle.

At the Mgbuka market along Onitsha-Owerri road, human and vehicular movements were delayed for hours when traders blocked the major road in protest against the alleged highhandedness of the leadership of the market.

It was gathered that Mgbuka market had remained closed on the orders of the chairman of the market, one Mr. Ifeanyi, who alleged that members of MASSOB had threatened to take over the market and control revenue collection. Reports said hoodlums cashed-in on the disagreements to halt human and vehicular movement for hours.

Used tyres were burnt in 12 different locations in the Upper Iweka axis on the Onitsha-Owerri and Onitsha-Enugu roads. Mr Emeka Ugwu, the Divisional Police Officer in-charge of Okpoko near Onitsha, told newsmen that the situation was under control, adding that human and vehicular movement had been restored. He said people were now free to go about their legitimate businesses without fear of intimidation by hoodlums.

“It is over. All is now calm and quiet. My men are on ground and patrolling the area to ensure peace,” he said. More than 20 police vans were still patrolling the Upper Iweka axis with the support of soldiers from the Onitsha military cantonment at the time of reporting yesterday.

“In the Onitsha-Owerri axis leading to Upper Iweka, traders in Old Motor Spare Parts Market, Obosi, had a misunderstanding with some members of the Movement for the Actualisation of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) over levy collection. Within some minutes, some hoodlums cashed-in on the squabble and started burning used tyres along the OnitshaOwerri road, which halted movement for more than five hours. On the Onitsha-Enugu axis leading to Upper Iweka, there was a disagreement between articulated vehicle drivers and officials of the Anambra State Traffic Agency (ASTA)”, a witness said.