By Mick Oseji, Asaba
The United States of Biafra Deputy Prime Minister, Dr Ngozi Orabueze, has ordered the traders at bustling Main Market Onitsha and other markets in the commercial city of Onitsha to open their shops today, Tuesday 27th January 2026 and throughout the week.
Orabueze who issued the directive, also assured the traders that the United States of Biafra Elite Squad would provide security and ensure that no agent of the Nigeria state and Charles Soludo disturbed or harassed the peaceful indigenes of Onitsha at Main Market throughout the week.
The counter – order comes on the heels of the alleged illegal shutdown of the market for a week by Governor Charles Soludo, who was appalled that the traders were still obeying the Monday Sit – at – home foisted on Anambra State and other states of the Southeast geopolitical zone by the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The Deputy Prime Minister vowed that the voluntary Monday sit at home civil disobedience embarked upon by the peaceful Biafra people.in the Southeast would continue until their leaders Onyendu Nnamdi Kanu and Simon Ekpa regain freedom .
“This voluntary sit at home is in action until our leader Onyendu Nnamdi Kanu and Simon Ekpa are released by the terrorist state of Nigeria and Finland respectively, and and the full restoration and protection of the United States of Biafra territory is accomplished
“The United States of Biafra Elite Squad will ensure that no illegitimate security agent of the Nigeria state and Charles Soludo is seen anywhere in Onitsha tomorrow disturbing the peaceful indigenes of Onitsha at Main Market throughout the week.
“The USB Secretary of Defence Gen Rabbi and his team will ensure full compliance of this order from the government to protect Biafra people
The protection of the rights of USB citizens must be maintained by the USB government,” Orabueze said.
Earlier, The Daily Crucible had reported that the Anambra State Governor, Professor Chukwuma Soludo, ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for a week over traders’ continued compliance with the Monday sit-at-home.
Governor Soludo had earlier directed residents and indigenes of Anambra State, especially business and public spaces to disregard the sit – at – home order and open for business on Mondays but the traders kept defying his order.
Angered by their defiance during an on-site visit to the main market yesterday along with some of his aides and other government officials on Monday, Soludo gave the order for the closure for a week, warning that it could be extended if traders failed to comply with the directive.
According to him, security agencies have sealed the market to enforce the order.
He described the directive as the latest—and perhaps most drastic— step in a long battle for the control of economic life in the South-East on Monday.
Soludo lamented that despite repeated assurances of enhanced security and appeals to reclaim public places, many traders at the popular market once again chose to keep their stalls locked.
According to him, their absence amounted to a quiet rebellion that nonetheless spoke volumes about the lingering climate of fear.
Soludo said, “The government cannot stand by while a few individuals willfully undermine public safety and disregard official directives meant to restore normalcy. This is plain economic sabotage.
“We are not going to allow this. The closure is a protective measure for law-abiding citizens.”
He, however, issued a stern warning that if the market fails to reopen after the one-week shutdown, it will be sealed for one month.
“You either decide that you are going to trade here or you go elsewhere. I am very serious about this,” the governor added.
