Anambra Governor Chukwuma Soludo has threatened to take over and revoke ownership of shops and markets that continue to comply with the Monday sit-at-home orders by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Mr Soludo issued the threat at a press conference on Wednesday in Awka, the state capital, following a one-week shutdown of the Onitsha Main Market on Monday.

“If you don’t start opening the place on Monday and observe the full operational days, we will revoke your ownership and give the place to Agunaechemba,” the governor threatened.

Mr Soludo’s threats come amid protests by traders who stormed the streets and attempted to access their sealed shops, as some sang solidarity songs in support of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu. Many had criticised the governor and questioned his right to shut the market.

The demonstrators, who accused the state government of punishing them for trying to protect lives and sources of livelihoods rather than addressing the poor security situation in the state, were met with the firing of tear gas canisters by the police to disperse them.

However, Mr Soludo faulted their claims that the compliance was to ensure the security of lives, noting that his administration will no longer tolerate the economic disruptions.

“Anybody saying he didn’t open for business because of insecurity is just delusional. Insecurity allows you to go to the stadium to play, it allows you to do walkouts on the streets, but it doesn’t allow you to open your shop.

“It is about our security. Because if you deny 20 per cent of the work there is in a year, you are dampening our prosperity, jobs that need to be created, incomes that need to be earned. That’s what this is about. And this should be simple enough to be understood by everybody.

“We have been patient since 2024, 2025. In 2022 and 2023, we were busy fighting all of this; in 2026, we’re turning on gear four. Anybody who closes any of these, we’ll help you close it for the next week. If you like holidays, we’ll help you. But going forward, we’ll now come after you, take those shops from you, and give to those who are ready to use them. At least, we have some powers in that regard,” Mr Soludo stated.

He added, “Markets cannot open because it is a private district. I also have the power to revoke your ownership of that place in the public interest. And we are going to be deploying this in the coming weeks. It’s either that they are open or we use them for something else.”

The governor stated that his government is open to dialogue with the traders, as he will be having another meeting with the market’s leadership on Thursday.

Meanwhile, Mr Soludo recalled that after he assumed office, IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu expressed his displeasure with the sit-at-home order.

“I visited Nnamdi Kanu when I assumed office, and he told me he is not happy with the sit-at-home thing because it’s a way of holding the people down. He said they want to turn the South-East into a desolate homeland, and he told me that was wrong,” Mr Soludo said.