Residents block Onitsha Head Bridge in protest of the ongoing closure of Onitsha Main Market following Governor Soludo’s directive

Residents of Onitsha in Anambra State blocked the Onitsha Head Bridge on Wednesday, protesting the ongoing closure of the Onitsha Main Market following a directive by Governor Chukwuma Soludo.

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In footage shared by the African Democratic Congress, demonstrators are seen barricading the bridge entrances, chanting slogans including “No way in, no way out. Onitsha to Asaba blocked. Stand till!” Some protesters remained firm, while others dispersed as the demonstration intensified.

The protest follows Soludo’s order on Monday to close the Onitsha Main Market for one week, a move traders have decried as disruptive to commerce and livelihoods.

On Tuesday, market traders took to the streets carrying placards and singing solidarity songs, some expressing support for the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Nnamdi Kanu.

Chants captured in videos circulating online included, “Soludo, we no go gree o” and “Say no to Monday,” reflecting widespread frustration with the government’s directive.

The Onitsha Head Bridge, which links Anambra State with Delta State, experienced significant disruption as a result of the protest, delaying movement of commuters and commercial vehicles between the two states.

Authorities have not yet released a statement regarding the protest, and the situation remains fluid.

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Further updates will follow as more information becomes available.