Igbeaku Orji 
Some traders from Ngwa Road market in Aba on Tuesday stormed Abia State Government House, Umuahia, protesting alleged siege of the market by the military following the May 30 killing of five soldiers by unknown gunmen and appealed to Governor Alex Otti to intervene.
The traders who carried placards with various inscriptions, including, “We are not the cause of the incident that happened in Aba, why suffering us.
“We have been intimidated by soldiers to have access to our shops,” “the military and masses are friends, why suffering us,” among others.
President of the Traders’ Association, Chinedu Oforndu, who spoke on their behalf, lamented that they had not been able to access their shops since the incident happened two weeks ago.
Oforndu said the situation had taken a toll on them and their families as they now find it difficult to feed.
“Our shops are under siege by the military since May 30. We don’t have access to our shops again. Hunger is dealing with us. Governor please come to our rescue”, he pleaded.
Speaking also, the Secretary of the traders, Mr Ikenna Ohanaba, said that the traders had been frustrated over the situation, and had to seek Governor’s intervention.
Ohanaba explained that the scene of the attack against the slain soldiers, Obikabia, was far from the location of the market and wondered why the traders would be made to suffer for what they had no hand in.
Responding, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Trade, Commerce and Industry, Chief Nwaka Inem, commended the traders for their peaceful comportment and promised to convey their grievances to the Governor.
He appealed for calm saying Government was making efforts to bring the situation under control.
The SA further noted that unprovoked attack on the military usually comes with collateral damages, adding that the situation would have been worse if not for the maturity and tact with which the Governor handled it.
While urging the traders to assist Government with any useful information that could lead to the apprehension of the perpetrators, Chief Inem, said the Governor had to raise the bounty on the perpetrators from N25 million to N30 million to demonstrate his commitment in apprehending the perpetrators.
