The Anambra State Police Command has blamed the social media for spreading fears and doubt on the possibility of all markets in the State resuming normal operations on Monday, Feb 2, 2026.
Anambra State Government, through the Commissioner for Information, Dr Law Mefor, had on Sunday, announced the reopening of the Onitsha Main Market, which it shut down for one week, for failing to heed its directive to put an end to the Monday sit-at-home.
Surprisingly, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, which had severally disowned the Monday sit-at-home, on Sunday, announced a complete lockdown of the entire Southeast region in solidarity with the traders and in demand for the release of its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
In a press statement on Sunday, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Tochukwu Ikenga blamed the social media for spreading the phantom fears.
According to the statement, “The Police Command has identified a deliberate, recurring pattern of coordinated social media posts aimed at spreading fear, misinformation, and bigotry among the public.
“These misleading narratives are intended to cause panic, undermine public confidence, and disrupt the peace currently enjoyed in the State.”
Ikenga admitted that it was consequent upon the scheduled markets resumption that “the Commissioner of Police held an emergency closed-door meeting with Area Commanders and Tactical Commanders.
“However, the Command notes with confidence that Ndi Anambra have remained vigilant, discerning, and united, refusing to succumb to such divisive narratives.
The resilience, cooperation, and timely sharing of credible information by residents continues to play a critical role in sustaining public order and safety.”
The PPRO said the CP, Ikioye Orutugu has directed the immediate intensification of intelligence-led patrols, security surveillance, and proactive policing operations to forestall any threat to lives and property.
“The Command reassures the public that adequate security measures have been put in place and urges residents to remain calm, law-abiding, and security-conscious.
Members of the public are advised to disregard unverified social media content and to report any suspicious movements or activities to the nearest Police formation or through established emergency channels.
In attendance at the meeting were officers in Charge of various Joint security forces across the State, as well as the representative of the State government on security,” Ikenga added.
However, an on-the-spot assessment and investigation of true situation of things in the Onitsha Main Market area in the last few days, show heightened fears by the traders, customers, residents and the general public over giving their all to the resumption order by Gov Chukwuma Soludo.
In an interview, some traders, who were found hanging around the market on Sunday, painted an uncertain picture.
They believed that wholesale reliance on the State Government order could spell doom.
When pressed further on their reasons for doubting the governor’s directive, a trader in the Niger Line said he had been a victim of such a situation in the past.
The 72-year-old business executive said that wise ones would simply stay away, instead of going to maim or kill them, setting the market ablaze and causing pandemonium to create opportunities to loot shops and goods generally.
He blamed Gov Soludo for putting the wrong foot forward on the issue by not meeting and discussing the plans he had with them in confidence first before announcing the closure.
Another trader, Chief Eric Offorka admitted having been in the market long enough to see more than eight military and civilian Governors, pointing out that the mark of a leader is his carriage, humility, and having listening ears.
Addressing the governor directly, the octogenarian sued for peace, calling for a gradual return to normalcy.
He wondered what becomes of any casualty when the security operatives have been treating and shooting citizens as if their lives don’t matter, and because no such careless shooter had ever been brought to account.
