…The market Chairman, Chief Obiora Ofole,condemned the act, describing it as a deliberate and dangerous move capable of causing serious harm.
ANAMBRA, NIGERIA- The iNews Times | There was confusion and tension at the New Spare Parts Market, Nkpor, in Anambra State on Friday after members of the market executive were allegedly locked inside their Market Hall while preparing for a scheduled meeting.
The affected executives, led by Chief Obiora Ofole, popularly known as “Award,” were reportedly trapped inside the hall located on the first floor of the market complex.
When the iNews Times correspondent arrived at the scene, the chairman and his executive members were seen on the balcony of the building, visibly distressed and calling for help from traders and bystanders downstairs. The situation attracted a large crowd as traders gathered in disbelief over the unfolding drama.
The intervention of officers from the Ogidi Divisional Police Station eventually brought the situation under control. The police, who were invited by the market chairman, supervised the breaking of the door leading to the stairway of the Market Hall with the assistance of some traders, enabling the trapped executives to regain their freedom.
Speaking shortly after the rescue, Chief Obiora Ofole, still in a frantic state, condemned the act, describing it as a deliberate and dangerous move capable of causing serious harm.
According to him, preliminary investigations and eyewitness accounts pointed to High Chief Paul Emerah, a trader in the market, as the person who locked the entrance door.
“This is not just misconduct; this is an act that could have endangered lives,” Ofole said. “We were inside preparing for a legitimate meeting aimed at discussing issues affecting the welfare and progress of traders. Suddenly, we discovered that we had been locked in without our knowledge.”
He described the incident as an “attempted act that could have led to loss of lives,” stressing that the hall could have become a death trap in the event of an emergency.
Ofole further noted that the experience was traumatizing and disrupted a very important meeting intended to foster unity, growth, and development within the market.
“We are elected to serve and protect the interests of all traders. Any action capable of causing panic or putting lives at risk must be condemned. We will not allow personal grievances to derail the peace and progress of this market,” he added.
Other executive members, including Mrs. Ezeome Eucharia and Mr. Ogechukwu Ofokaja, described the development as shocking and unfortunate.
Mrs. Eucharia said the incident created unnecessary fear and confusion among traders, especially as no prior notice or complaint was brought to the executive before the action was taken.
“This is not the way to address grievances. Locking people inside a building is dangerous and unacceptable,” she stated.
Mr. Ofokaja also emphasized that the executive remains open to dialogue and called on traders to channel their concerns through proper and peaceful means.
Several traders who witnessed the incident expressed concern that such actions could tarnish the reputation of the market, which is known as one of the major spare parts hubs in Anambra State.
When contacted, High Chief Paul Emerah admitted to locking the door leading to the stairway. However, he defended his action, claiming it was borne out of frustration.
According to him, he had repeatedly been prevented from attending general meetings of the market without what he described as “cogent reasons.”
“I locked the place because I have been unfairly excluded from general meetings in the past,” Emerah said. “How can decisions affecting all traders be taken while some of us are deliberately sidelined? I acted out of protest.”
As of the time of filing this report, normalcy had gradually returned to the market following the police intervention. Traders have called for calm and urged both parties to resolve their differences amicably in the interest of peace and business stability.
The incident has, however, raised concerns about internal disagreements within the market leadership and the need for stronger mechanisms to address disputes without resorting to actions capable of escalating tension.
