Onitsha Beer Dealers Protest Alleged Market Takeover, Seek Soludo’s Intervention

By Chibuzor Okoye

Traders at the Onitsha Beer Dealers Market have staged a peaceful protest in Onitsha, calling on Anambra State Governor, Prof. Chukwuma Soludo, to intervene over what they described as alleged harassment, intimidation and extortion in their market.

The traders alleged that a man identified as Ifeanyi Franklin Okeke, accompanied by armed security personnel, recently claimed ownership of the market and began demanding new levies from traders. They appealed to the state government to investigate the matter and protect their businesses.

Speaking during the protest, Chief Augustus Nnabuife said the land housing the market, also known as Nwugo Beer Market, was acquired from the Anambra State Government in 1988. He said the traders obtained receipts and Certificates of Occupancy and constructed their shops before moving into the market in 1998, following its commissioning by the then Military Administrator of the state, Wing Commander Emmanuel Uwakwe Ukaegbu.

Chief Nnabuife alleged that Onitsha South Local Government Area subsequently issued allocation papers to shops in the market and that traders had continued to pay government taxes and levies. He claimed that in August 2026, Okeke and his lawyer entered the market and allegedly informed traders that he had acquired the property from the government.

According to him, the alleged new owner subsequently began collecting N1,000 daily from shops and changed the name of the market to Ihioma Beer Market. He further alleged that traders were informed they would pay N20,000 monthly as security levy, compared with the N1,200 they previously paid, and that armed men were later stationed at the market after its gates were reportedly locked.

Two traders, Nze Donatus Njesi and Mrs Cordelia Edimobi, said the traders had previously protested at the Government House in Awka and submitted petitions to the state government. They appealed to Governor Soludo to look into the matter. Other traders, Iwuchukwu Oguguo and Ibe Mmaduabuchi, alleged that they were arrested after responding to an invitation from the State Criminal Investigation Department, Awka, and spent seven weeks in custody before being granted bail. They said the matter remains before the court.

Efforts to reach Ifeanyi Franklin Okeke for his response to the allegations were unsuccessful as of the time of filing this report.