Pandemonium, as officials from Government agency in Anambra state destroyed newspapers and assaulted vendors, raising tension in the area.
The men of Awka Capital Territory Development Authority (ACTDA) brazenly carried out the destruction, showing no regard for the consequences and suggesting that the issue should be left to divine intervention, as they claimed the state government prohibited street newspaper sales.
Numerous newspapers, including The Nation, The Sun, Vanguard, Punch, and Guardian, were among those destroyed. The officials also targeted individuals at the Aroma junction, including security personnel, and vandalized vendors’ Point of Sale (PoS) machines. This flagrant action incited curses from bystanders and local traders witnessing the mayhem.
In response to this brutality, the affected vendors have vowed not to resume newspaper sales until there is a change in the administration of Governor Soludo. The vendors’ tables were also demolished, and their umbrellas confiscated by government agents.
The previous week, such unjust treatment by Soludo’s aides prompted state lawmakers to propose the establishment of mini markets for the affected vendors. The aim was to regulate street trading and mitigate its adverse effects on the state capital.
Henry Mbachu, the lawmaker representing Awka South 1 Constituency, highlighted the increasing poverty rate and stressed the importance of creating opportunities for people to earn a living. He emphasized that establishing local mini-markets within Awka metropolis would help address the issue of street trading and promote micro-businesses, aligning with the goal of making Anambra a prosperous homeland.
Christian Aburime, Soludo’s Press Secretary, expressed unawareness of the situation but pledged to communicate with the Managing Director of the agency. Aburime underscored the importance of maintaining cleanliness in Anambra and noted that even in Lagos, newspaper vendors are allowed to operate in designated areas.
In a disturbing revelation, one of the ACTDA officials claimed that their actions were supported by the Governor, asserting that reporting to Tinubu or any other authority would yield no consequences.
The destruction wasn’t limited to newspaper vendors but extended to all petty traders along the streets in Anambra state as part of the government’s “keep Anambra clean” initiative.
