Traders at Nkwo Nnewi market, Anambra State, on Saturday protested against the indiscriminate arrest of their members by the Nigeria Police following Friday clash between the police and members of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) which claimed at least six lives, including two police officers.
Dozens of traders locked their shops in protest and gathered at the central park of the market, carrying placards with various inscriptions.
Some of them read, “Release our members, they are not IPOB members; “IPOB members came in through our gates open for business; “Governor Obiano hear our cry, innocent traders and servants were all arrested; “Nnewi Police Area Commander, Anambra State Commissioner of Police, the Inspector General of Police come to our rescue; “we are not criminals, we are traders doing our legitimate business.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Haruna Mohammed, had said that 34 IPOB members were arrested after the clash with the police.
But the Chairman of Motor Spare Parts Dealers Association, Gabriel Chibueze told journalists that over 20 were indiscriminately arrested, alleging that the arrests were made at the motor spare parts market two hours after the clash between the police and members of the IPOB at another section of the market.
He said, “We are not involved in the police attack. We were doing our legitimate business at Nkwo Nnewi when members of the IPOB entered our market.
“We never invited them and they never told us they were coming. We were confused that after the incident police began to arrest everyone they saw in the market. We are not criminals or lawbreakers.”
Mr. Chibueze called for the immediate release of the traders.
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