Traders in Onitsha, Anambra State, operating under the Association of Modebe Tenants, have appealed to the Inspector-General of Police (IGP) for urgent intervention over alleged threats to their lives, destruction of properties and suspected Police collusion in the crisis.
The traders made the appeal at a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, alleging that a former Chairman of the association, Obiora Okoro, colluded with Senior Police Officers at the local Area Command to intimidate them and facilitate attacks on their members.
Speaking on behalf of the association, its Trustees Chairman, Chief Okey Muojekwu, alleged that armed thugs demolished their business premises and properties while shooting sporadically to intimidate traders and passers-by.
He further alleged that the attackers used machetes, guns and other dangerous weapons to assault members of the association, leaving several people with serious injuries.
During the press conference, the traders displayed photographs of injuries they claimed were sustained during the attacks, which they attributed to gunshots, machete cuts and assaults with other dangerous weapons.
The association said the incident had resulted in the destruction of properties worth millions of naira and the loss of income, leaving several traders displaced and unable to carry on with their businesses.
The traders also expressed concern over alleged continued threats to their lives following the incident, saying the situation had heightened fears among affected members.
They lamented that previous petitions submitted to the office of the Inspector-General of Police had yet to produce the desired results, prompting them to renew their appeal for urgent intervention by the police authorities.
The association called on the IGP to investigate the allegations against the Area Commander and the state’s Commissioner of Police, whom they accused of supporting and protecting the alleged perpetrators.
They also demanded the restoration of the land in dispute, insisting that it had been legally leased to them for a period of 50 years.
Additionally, the traders urged the police to arrest and prosecute Okoro and all other individuals allegedly involved in the attacks.
They maintained that an independent intervention by the police leadership was necessary to guarantee their safety, ensure accountability and protect their business interests.
The press conference was facilitated by the Civil Society Intervention Coalition, an Abuja-based human rights advocacy group, to provide the traders with an opportunity to publicly present their grievances and seek justice.
