By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

In his move to enforce compliance with the state’s directive against the controversial Monday sit-at-home order, Anambra State Governor, Prof Chukwuma Soludo, has ordered the immediate shutdown of the Onitsha main market for 7days.

The shutdown is coming on the heels of repeated defiance by traders operating in the market who failed to open for business on Monday despite government warning to disregard the sit-at-home order imposed by non-state actors.

Recall that Soludo had earlier warned against the lock up of the market for business on Mondays and also exrended the warning to civil servants who abstain from work on same day in the name of sit-at-home.

Speaking during his vist to the market, the Governor stated that if they don't open the market on Monday at the expiration of the one week shut down, the market will be shut down for one month.

He explained that the closure is a necessary step to protect law-abiding citizens and reinforce the authority of the state, noting that the government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy.

To this end, the security personnel, including police, army among others, were immediately deployed to seal the market gates and further ensure compliances.