Commuters faced major disruptions on Wednesday as angry traders and residents blocked the strategic Onitsha Head Bridge, a key link connecting Anambra State to Delta State.
The demonstration was captured in viral videos circulating online, showing protesters barricading the bridge's entrances, chanting slogans, and halting traffic in both directions.
Chants included “No way in, no way out,” “Onitsha to Asaba blocked,” “Stand till!” and direct criticism of Anambra State Governor Chukwuma Soludo, such as “Soludo, we no go gree o” and “Say no to Monday.”
The protest stemmed from Governor Soludo's Monday directive ordering a one-week closure of the bustling Onitsha Main Market, one of the largest commercial hubs in Nigeria's South-East region. The order followed the market's repeated failure to open for business on Mondays due to the ongoing "sit-at-home" observance, which has caused significant economic losses in the region.
Tensions escalated earlier on Tuesday, when traders staged street demonstrations carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs, some expressing support for detained Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leader Nnamdi Kanu.
Security forces were deployed to enforce the closure and maintain order around the market.The bridge blockade intensified the disruption, severely affecting movement across the Niger River bridge and impacting interstate travel and commerce between Anambra and neighboring states.
The protest highlights growing frustration among traders over government measures aimed at curbing the sit-at-home orders, which they view as punitive and economically damaging. IPOB and affiliated groups have condemned the market shutdown as an overreach and violation of rights, urging peaceful defiance.
Authorities have not yet commented on the bridge blockade specifically, but police stated earlier that security had been strengthened to prevent breaches of peace. The situation remains tense in Onitsha, with potential for further demonstrations as the market closure continues.
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