A wave of sorrow and panic swept through Onitsha Main Market on Sunday as officials of the Onitsha North Local Government Council began demolishing shops deemed illegal. Traders watched helplessly as their structures were torn down. By 12:30 a.m., security forces, including the military, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Agunechemba security outfit, had cordoned off all roads leading into the market. In a statement, Council Chairman Hon. Anthony Nwora reminded owners of illegal structures at Park 1, Park 2, and Park 3 that the grace period for compliance had expired. Titled “Final Reminder on Demolition of Illegal Structures at Main Market, Onitsha,” the notice explained that an initial 14-day warning expired on February 14, 2026, and a subsequent 14-day extension, granted at the request of traders, ended on February 28, 2026. While some traders had removed their wares voluntarily, many were hoping for a last-minute reprieve before enforcement began. Scavengers reportedly benefited from the demolition, collecting iron frames and other materials and selling them at giveaway prices. One trader, Okeke Jude, described the heartbreaking scene: “When I heard they had started demolishing the market, I rushed to save my goods around 2 a.m. At the entrance, a security officer demanded I ‘settle’ him, so I gave him N500. But when I reached my shop, it was already destroyed with all my wares inside. I collapsed and left without a single item.” Another victim, Udoka, claimed an iron structure from his shop was sold by a security operative despite his protests. “He asked why I had not removed my wares within the 14-day notice,” he said, visibly distressed. The market remains under heavy security, and traders are unlikely to gain entry on Monday. Officials emphasized that the demolition targeted structures built outside approved plans, including extensions blocking access routes and drainage channels, and insisted the exercise was meant to restore order, safety, and sanitation rather than disrupt legitimate businesses.
