Tensions Rise in Enugu International Building Materials Market Over Alleged Soldier Brutality.
A severe crisis is unfolding in the newly established Enugu International Building Materials Market, also known as New Kenyatta, Ugwuaji, in Enugu South Local Government Area of Enugu State. The cause of concern stems from reported continuous brutality and humiliation of traders by soldiers stationed to guard the market.
Stakeholders in the market have raised alarm bells, urging the General Officer Commanding the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army to intervene promptly. They warn that the reported abuses could escalate into confrontations and protests if left unaddressed.
Breaking: President Tinubu Appoints Ambassador Desmond AkaworÂ
Upon a visit to the market by SaharaReporters on Wednesday, the presence of both soldiers and policemen was noted. The soldiers were apparently deployed by developers to safeguard the market and protect their interests.
However, traders have voiced grievances, alleging that the soldiers have exceeded their authority, subjecting traders to unwarranted molestation and humiliation. Questions have arisen about the soldiers’ original purpose in the market.
An anonymous trader shared, “Since we relocated to this market last year, soldiers have been the ones guarding the market. But recently, the soldiers have resorted to brutalizing the traders, often openly humiliating people for what they perceive as insubordination or minor infractions.”
High Tension in Delta as Appeal Court Judgment Looms for Governor Sheriff oborevwori, Ovie Omo-Agege
The trader further revealed instances of excessive force, narrating, “Last week Thursday, a trader with a stomach ailment went to unoccupied shops to relieve himself. One of the soldiers saw him, started flogging him, stripped him, and forced him to use his bare hands to clean up.
The soldier then paraded the trader within the market with the waste in his hands for over an hour. This is the worst humiliation anyone can face.”
Concerned traders have sought answers from their market leaders regarding the continued presence of the soldiers. However, developers insist that the soldiers were deployed at their request.
A trader warned, “If nothing is done soon, they will kill someone here one day, and you can’t guarantee the consequences because the traders are really angry.
Efforts to reach the developers or market leaders for comments were unsuccessful at the time of this report. The spokesperson for the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, Major Eromosele Unuakhalu, pledged to investigate the matter and respond appropriately but had not provided a response by the time of filing this report. The situation remains tense, with stakeholders anxiously awaiting a resolution to the reported brutality in the market.
