Something troubling is happening in Onitsha, and it is shaking the bones of the great Ogbo-Ogwu Market—one of the biggest drug markets in West Africa. The recent invasion by NAFDAC, the federal agency in charge of regulating drugs and food, has left many traders in pain, confusion, and deep anger.
According to NAFDAC, the market was shut down because of fake and illegal drugs being sold. That would have made sense—if the operation was well planned, targeted, and honest. But what we saw was something different. They came like a flood, closing shops left and right, not checking who was innocent or guilty. This is where the hunter, in trying to catch a rat, ends up burning down the entire forest.
Yes, we must agree: fake drugs are a deadly problem. They kill our people quietly and dangerously. They must be stopped. But the way to do that is not by punishing everyone, including the honest traders who follow the rules. What kind of justice arrests both the thief and the shopkeeper who tried to stop him?
Even more disturbing are the growing reports from traders saying they are being forced to pay huge bribes to reopen their shops. Some claim they were asked to pay over 1 million naira to gain access to their own businesses. Is this a clean-up, or is it a cash grab dressed in uniform?
Voices from across the country have begun to speak up. VeryDarkMan, a popular social critic, came down to Onitsha to show support to the traders. Senator Tony Nwoye has spoken boldly. Even Peter Obi, a man not known for talking carelessly, has shown concern. When leaders like these start raising eyebrows, something is definitely wrong.
What the people of Ogbo-Ogwu are asking for is simple: fairness. If there are bad eggs, remove them. But don’t break all the eggs just to make a point. NAFDAC must name the guilty, explain its process, and respond clearly to these extortion claims. Anything less is an insult to justice and a betrayal of trust.
The Igbo trader is not a criminal by default. He is a hustler, a survivor, and a builder of communities. Punish those selling poison, yes—but don’t destroy the whole market because of the actions of a few. Nigeria is bleeding enough already. We cannot afford to kill our local economies with the same hands that should protect them.
In the end, if NAFDAC cannot explain its actions with truth and transparency, then it must answer this simple question: Who watches the watchdog?
