The bustling Anambra International Shoe Dealers’ Market has transformed from a center of commerce into a scene of absolute carnage. Tension reached a breaking point this week as the market began “boiling” over, following a brutal invasion by suspected thugs who descended upon unsuspecting traders. What was supposed to be a standard day of business quickly spiraled into a nightmare of flying fists and shattered displays, leaving several traders severely injured and the entire community in a state of shock.
Eyewitnesses describe a terrifying scene where these “muscle-men,” allegedly acting as unauthorized enforcers, stormed the stalls to demand illegal levies and intimidate the leadership. The resistance from the traders was met with extreme violence; many were hospitalized after being pummeled for simply trying to protect their livelihoods. The air in the market remains thick with anger and fear as the once-vibrant aisles now sit empty, with business owners refusing to open their shops until their safety can be guaranteed.
As videos of the brutality circulate online, the outcry for government intervention is growing louder. Traders are calling on Governor Soludo and security agencies to dismantle the “thug culture” that continues to plague the state’s economic hubs. For now, the “sole” of Anambra’s footwear industry is under siege, and the traders are making one thing clear: they will no longer stand by while their dignity and blood are spilled on the very ground where they sweat to make a living.
