SaharaReporters learnt that goods worth millions of naira belonging to the traders were equally destroyed
Several people trading at Holy Ghost and Old Park in the Enugu North local government area of Enugu State were brutalised by Nigerian soldiers on Sunday.
SaharaReporters learnt that goods worth millions of naira belonging to the traders were equally destroyed.
Some of the affected traders who spoke to SaharaReporters on Sunday decried the level of destruction of their goods.
They said they did not commit any offence.
“As I speak with you, I don’t know what offence we (traders) committed. We have been trading on Sundays at Holy Ghost and Old Park, and we have not had any problems with the state or the security agencies.
“Police always come in the evening time to collect N1,500 from Keke drivers (commercial tricycle riders) and bus drivers. We have not had any issues with them. I was surprised when the soldiers came around 10:34 am today and started attacking us with horsewhips and destroying our businesses.
“We didn’t block the road so nothing warranted this barbaric and hateful attack from the Nigerian soldiers,” a trader who gave his name as Ogochukwu Odo narrated.
A driver whose windshield was smashed, called on the state governor, Peter Mbah to stop the vicious attacks leashed on peaceful residents of the state using the military and police.
He said, “It is regrettable that while other state governors are busy undertaking projects that impact positively on the lives of their people, Mbah is busy chasing shadow in the name of fighting sit-at-home.”
SaharaReporters reported on Wednesday that a combined team of security agents shot dead three traders during a protest against the sealing of their shops at Ogbete Main Market by Governor Mbah, for not opening on Monday.
Meanwhile, efforts by SaharaReporters to speak with Deputy Director of Army Public Relations, 82DV, Lt.Col Jonathan Unuakhalu were unsuccessful as he did not answer his calls.
He had yet to respond to a text message sent to him at the time of filing this report.