Onitsha traders are currently dealing with losses brought on by security personnel’s ongoing closure of six significant local markets for more than two weeks.

Under the pretense of cracking down on dealers of counterfeit and expired medications, Nigerian security forces seized control of the marketplaces and locked down every store, according to information obtained.

The Onitsha Drug Market, Oduwani (Power Tools and Allied) Market, Surgical Line Market, Plumbing Materials Market, Ogbogwu Fashion Line Market, Bridgehead Provision Market, and a portion of the Timber Dealers Market are among the impacted markets.

The development followed reports that the military soldiers were called by the National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control, or NAFDAC, regarding its recent operation against drug dealers.

Speaking to  few of the Head Bridge market vendors vented their annoyance at government organizations for preventing legitimate companies from reopening.

They also bemoaned the detrimental effects the market restriction had on them and disapproved of the strategy NAFDAC had used to combat medicine counterfeiting.

According to one of the traders, who went by the name Michael Okoh, he was no longer finding it easy. He claimed that they were not given any time to get ready for the current circumstance.

The trader said he supported the government’s efforts to stop the illegal narcotics trade. However, he stated that to enable their return to the market, the exercise must be completed quickly.

“They caught us off guard,” he said. Cash was even found in the drawers of some people. Some people only use their daily income to provide for their families. We were not given enough time to get ready for this circumstance.

“I back the government’s initiatives to combat counterfeit and subpar medications. Allow them to seize and remove any illegal narcotics that may be present.

“However, allow them to complete the exercise as quickly as possible so that people can start looking for their source of income again.”

According to a market union executive at the Head Bridge drug market who wished to remain anonymous, the government agency was targeting the market.

Our market trade union’s chairman is currently operating in an acting capacity, which presents a dilemma. As a result, he is not appropriately following up on the situation.

“The Governor hasn’t been to the market either. One of his commissioners was despatched, but he was turned away. The Chairman of the Local Government is no different. Only Senator Tony Nwonye and Mr. Peter Obi had visited the traders.

Nobody is aware of how many products have been removed from the market as of right now. They are stealing items from people’s stores while they are not there.

In addition, I am concerned about the millions of naira I have in my shop. If someone enters your store and makes away with it, how will you know the person?”

In the meantime, Mr. Peter Obi, a former Labour Party (LP) presidential candidate, had previously questioned the reasoning behind the market’s ongoing shutdown.

Obi voiced concern that, in addition to the well-known drug market, closing down other nearby markets that aren’t linked appears disproportionate and unwarranted.

The former governor of Anambra State made a strong case for the market’s quick reopening, claiming that millions of people’s livelihoods are being negatively impacted by its ongoing shutdown.

“Regulatory and security agencies have closed the entire Head Bridge market in Onitsha due to suspected drug trafficking within one section of the market known as Ogbo Ogwu,” he stated.

For the sake of society’s health and safety, I am calling for the immediate reopening of nearby markets that were also negatively impacted by the closure, even though I vehemently condemn such illegal drug trading activities and urge the government to take all necessary steps to stop the sale of counterfeit goods, particularly drugs, and bring those responsible to justice.

“It seems excessive and unjustified to shut down not only the Ogbo Ogwu Market but also other nearby markets that are not involved, such as Rod, Allied and Tools, Plumbing Materials, Timber, Surgical, and Provision Markets.”

Since their ongoing closure is negatively impacting millions of people’s livelihoods, particularly during this trying time in our nation, I humbly call for their prompt reopening.

“Furthermore, the search should be conducted transparently, with store owners present while their shops are inspected and items removed by the law and due process.”

Obi also criticized the approach adopted by the NAFDAC saying, ”The current strategy should be reconsidered to prevent undue hardship on traders, their families, and the state’s economy.

“A more balanced and transparent approach will enhance both security and economic stability.

“While pursuing the end of enhanced public health, we should not lose sight of the collateral economic effects of adjacent market closures.”

Earlier on Tuesday, the International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) said it strongly condemned the militarised approach adopted in the raid on drug dealers.

Intersociety also called on NAFDAC to prevail on the army personnel to leave the six markets as the officers have continued to engage in “unprofessional and corrupt practices.”

“The Intersociety is calling for immediate reopening of the affected markets and refunding of not less than N20billion being losses incurred by the innocent traders of the six affected markets since Sunday, February 9, 2025, particularly traders of the Onitsha Drug Market.”

In a statement signed by Emeka Umeagbalasi, Intersociety Board Chairman, the organization further said, “We hereby call on the authorities of NAFDAC and their hired officers and personnel and the high command of the Nigerian Army to as a matter of uttermost immediacy, reopen the military, corruptly, and unlawfully shut down Onitsha Drug Market and those located in Idumota in Lagos State and Ariaria in Aba, Abia State.

“NAFDAC must refrain from encouraging corruption and unprofessionalism in the Nigerian military and stop using them to militarize the Agency’s civil and law enforcement operations. Traders of the Onitsha Drug Market and those in Lagos and Abia must steer clear of fake and adulterated drugs or trading on illicit hard drugs such as codeine, cocaine, contraband tramadol, and allied others.

“The Executive Governor of Anambra State, Prof Charles Soludo, is hereby called upon to wade into the matter and facilitate the speedy reopening of the Onitsha Drug Market and five adjoining others. NAFDAC is further advised to go after fake and illicit drug kingpins responsible and leave innocent others alone who constitute over 95% of the entire market’s traders.

“Breaking market stores belonging to traders of the market in their absence and confiscating their goods, whether done in the hours of the blue law or in broad daylight, is a serious misconduct and an unlawful act capable of attracting a flurry of lawsuits against the NAFDAC and its hired officers and personnel and high command of the Nigerian Army.”

Speaking about the matter, a Public Affairs Analyst and Communication Scholar at Peaceland University, Enugu, Nduka Odo, said the development raises serious concerns.

Odo noted that millions of people rely on those markets for their daily income.

“I support the fight against fake drugs. It is crucial. But shutting down entire market areas seems like an overreaction.

“We all know that millions of people rely on these markets for their daily income, and their families will suffer immensely from this sudden disruption.

“Have we asked, what is the fate of those who sell genuine drugs? Our people say that you don’t throw away the dirty water in the bath with the baby.”