The traders displayed placards and appealed to Governor Alex Otti to stop the military from destroying their businesses, adding that they were not the ones who recently attacked and killed some soldiers in the town.
Traders in Aba, the commercial hub of Abia State on Tuesday protested against the alleged destruction of their businesses by Nigerian military.
The traders displayed placards and appealed to Governor Alex Otti to stop the military from destroying their businesses, adding that they were not the ones who recently attacked and killed some soldiers in the town.
SaharaReporters reported on May 30 that hoodlums suspected to be enforcing a sit-at-home exercise during Biafra Heroes Day celebration killed five soldiers at Obikabia junction checkpoint.
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters subsequently declared that it would crush the Indigenous People of Biafra and its militant arm, Eastern Security Network in the state.
Since the incident, there have been reports of young men and women hounded by military personnel.
Protesting at the Government House on Tuesday, the traders accused the military of laying siege to the town, saying it was affecting businesses.
The traders, who were mainly from Ngwa Road Market in Aba, claimed that the siege was destroying their businesses and worsening hunger.
Led by the President of the Traders' Association, Chinedu Ofondu, the traders who displayed placards, some of which read: "We are tired of staying at home", "We have no access to our shops any more", "Our shops are under siege", "Our dear Governor, please help us".
They pleaded with the state governor to prevail on the military to allow them reopen their shops or they will die of hunger.
Ofondu lamented that they have been unable to access their shops since the incident, adding that the situation had taken a toll on them and their families.
"Our shops are under siege by the military since May 30. We don't have access to our shops again. Hunger is dealing with us. Governor, please come to our rescue," he said.
Also speaking, the Secretary of the traders’ union, Mr Ikenna Ohanaba, said they were frustrated by the situation and in need of government's help.
He expressed sorrow and frustration that the incident where soldiers lost their lives occurred far away from the market, and questioned why innocent traders were being punished for something they had no involvement in.
Responding, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade, Commerce and Industry, Chief Nwaka Inem assured the traders that he would convey their grievances to the governor.
Inem pleaded with them to remain calm.
He noted that though unprovoked attacks on the military usually come with collateral damages, something worse might have happened but for the way Governor Otti handled the situation.
He urged the traders to assist the government with any useful information that could lead to the arrest of the killers of the soldiers, stating that the state governor had even raised the bounty put the heads of the perpetrators from N25 million to N30 million to demonstrate the government's commitment in apprehending the culprits.