Officials of the Anambra State Government, supported by the state security outfit Operation Udo Ga Achi, code-named Agunechemba, on Monday sealed more than 1,000 shops at the popular Bridgehead Drug Market (Ogbogwu) in Onitsha, Anambra State.

The action was reportedly taken over alleged non-compliance with the directive by Governor Chukwuma Soludo suspending the Monday sit-at-home order in the state.

The enforcement exercise began around 2:30 p.m. when government officials, accompanied by members of the security outfit, moved through the market and placed red labels marked “Sealed” on shops that were found closed.

Shops that were open for business were not affected by the exercise.

Some traders present at the market were seen making phone calls to inform shop owners whose stores were locked and subsequently sealed by the officials.

Attempts to reach the Chairman of the Ogbogwu Market, Chukwuleta Ndubuisi, for comments were unsuccessful due to network difficulties.

Reacting to the development, the President of the Ogbaru Main Market Traders Association, Ndubuisi Ochiogu, said traders had been complying with the directive to open for business on Mondays.

According to him, a joint monitoring team from the state government and the Ogbaru Local Government had earlier visited the market and commended traders for their level of compliance with the directive ending the Monday sit-at-home in the state.

“We open our shops every Monday in compliance with Governor Soludo’s order, and more traders have continued to respond positively,” Ochiogu said. (Vanguard)