BY SUNNY A. DAVID
Businesses was brought to a closed following the protest by the Aluminum Dealers and Traders at Oguta Road, Onitsha over the arrest of their Caretaker Committee Chairman, Mr. Tochukwu Aneke, by Police from the Central Police Station (CPS), Onitsha, Anambra State.
The Chairman was arrested Monday morning as the market were almost ready for the inauguration of the new Board of Trustees (BoT) of the market.
The Secretary of the market told newsmen that the former Chairman of the market and some removed BoT members were behind the protest.
The protesters made up mainly of youths matched from Oguta Road through Enugu Road to CPS where they were addressed by the Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Mr. Ifeanyi Iburu, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP).
The placard- carrying protesters were chanting songs to the effect that if they did not release their Chairman there market would remain shut.
The Secretary said there have been longstanding trouble between the old executive and the new one following the failure of the former Chairman, Ikechukwu Ndibe to transparently give account of the shops they built at Ogbunike and that of his stewardship for eight years he was in the saddle.
He said the former Chairman and his executives who allegedly have about ten shops each were forcing some members who have not even got one shop to move into the new market.
He confirmed that Court had nullified the two executives at the instance of the former Chairman but they had since filed appeal against the judgement.
The DPO who addressed the protesters assured them that they would resolve the matter, stating that they would also ensure that justice is done in the matter.
