The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that all markets in Enugu State were on Thursday, closed down as traders protested the transfer of some Boko Haram detainees to some states in the South East. The markets who complied to the closure directive in Enugu are; Ogbete, Kenyatta, Artisan, Garki and Aria were all closed for business.
Some customers who spoke to reporters at Ogbete market expressed surprise at the closure of the market as there was no prior information that the market would be closed. Mrs Onyeka Uba said that she was not aware of the development as she came from Nsukka to buy the goods she would sell in her community.
“I am surprised that all the markets in Enugu have been closed over Boko Haram prisoners. I came all the way from Nsukka to buy provision for my shop. What it means is that I will go back home, wasting my money on transportation without achieving anything,” she lamented.
At Kenyatta market, Mrs Josephine Uwualili, a customer, said that she came to buy foodstuff as there was nothing at home for her family to eat.
"I pray that some evening markets will open for business to enable people buy what they need. The cause for which the markets were closed is justified but the leadership of the market union should have given enough publicity to the closure," she said.
A food vendor at Abakpa Market, Mrs Judth Eze, lamented that the food she cooked would be wasted as she was unaware of the directive.
“It is unfortunate that the food l cooked will be wasted because l did not hear that markets will be closed today. Please tell the people that are giving this type of order to say it on time, at least give 48 hours information so as not to take anybody by surprise," she said.
Meanwhile, the President of Enugu Traders Association, Chief Temple Ude, confirmed the closure of markets in the state, adding that it was a directive from the South-East Traders Associations leadership.
However, reports say that normalcy has since returned to the state on Friday, July 10, following the federal government's relocation of the Boko Haram prisoners back to Abuja.