It was alleged that not less than one person was shot and killed by an anti-riot police squad who forcefully wanted to stop protesters at Ogbete main market Enugu on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
Meanwhile, Enugu residents were protesting against the seal of their shops by the state government over their compliance with last Monday’s sit-at-home order that was issued by the self acclaimed fractional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Mazi Simon Ekpa.
It was gathered that many other traders sustained various degrees of gun injuries.
Recall that the Enugu State government on Monday sealed the shops of traders who did not open their shops over sit-at-home order by Mazi Ekpa.
Witnesses narrated that the aggrieved Ogbete traders were protesting peacefully in the market environment over the illegal sealing of their shops by the state government before police intercepted them and started shooting in the air.
According to them, “We are angry, to open shop is not by force. State government should leave us alone to do our business”.
One of the traders informed newsmen that, “They’ve been shooting and killing people in the market.
“The traders started protesting here because those whose shops were closed because of the sit-at-home were asked to pay money before their shops will be reopened. They said they will not part with any money and that was how the protest started.”
“The protesters started making bonfires on the roads and the police moved armoured tanks into the market, started indiscriminate shooting and killed people. Some got bullet injuries and others got different forms of wounds. Teargas were being shot and pandamonium ensured,” he narrated.
The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Daniel Ndukwe said that even though he did not have a comprehensive report on the matter, normalcy was returning to the market and that the police were still at the market to maintain peace.
