Tensions are rising in Anambra State following the shutdown of the Head Bridge drug market in Onitsha, but the police want one message clear: protests won’t solve anything.
In a new statement, “The Anambra State Police Command has urged residents in the state to ignore calls for protests against the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC.”
The move comes as some traders, frustrated by the market closure, turn to social media to stir unrest. But the police say these calls aren’t as innocent as they seem.
According to the command’s spokesperson, SP Tochukwu Ikenga, “certain individuals, masquerading as human rights activists, were using social media to incite the public against government institutions, including NAFDAC, the Police, and other security agencies.”
The police maintain that NAFDAC acted on a clear directive from the Federal Government to sanitise open drug markets.
“The action of NAFDAC was in line with the Federal Government’s directives to rid the country’s open drug markets of unregistered, expired, banned, substandard, falsified, and illicit drugs, including diverted donated drugs and controlled substances.”
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While security officials say they understand the traders’ pain and have passed their concerns on to the appropriate quarters, they warn that protest plans are under watch.
“The state Police Command, after a critical threat analysis based on intelligence reports, warns that the intended protest could escalate and be used by criminals to wreak havoc,” SP Ikenga stated.
Despite the outrage, the police are standing firm. They say they will continue to protect every resident’s rights but not at the expense of peace.
Behind closed doors, meetings with market leaders have revealed a deeper divide.
Leadership in the market says it wants no part in the planned protest. In fact, it’s cooperating with authorities to track down the real troublemakers.
The final word from the police, Stay out of trouble. They have called on residents to stay calm, obey the law, and steer clear of anything that could spark chaos.