Commercial activities were paralysed on Saturday in Anambra State following protests by traders across the state.

The traders, who closed their shops as early as 9am in major cities of Onitsha, Awka, Nnewi, Ekwulobia and Agulu, took to the streets protesting what they termed plan by the Federal Government to transfer Boko Haram detainees to prisons in the state.

At Tarzan junction, Nkpor in Idemili North Local Government Area of the state, traders and other residents blocked the Enugu – Onitsha Expressway chanting songs suggesting they would be forced to revive the clamour for Biafran Republic if pushed to the wall.

The traders carried placards bearing inscriptions like ‘Buhari should not destroy the peace in Anambra State,’ ‘Biafra kanyi choro’ (We want Biafra), ‘Buhari, Igbos cannot accept your prisoners, ‘We do not want Boko Haram in Anambra,’ ‘Federal Government, why extend Boko Haram to Anambra?’ and ‘Boko Haram prisoners are not allowed here.’

Speaking with journalists during the protests, the Secretary-General, Anambra State Amalgamated Traders Association, Chief Chuma Elucharu, stated that traders in the state decided to shut markets to protest the rumoured relocation of Boko Haram detainees to the state.

Eluchraru said the protests would be continuous until the Federal Government assured that there was no such plan.

At Onitsha, the protesters threatened to be violent should the rumour proved to be true.

There was tension as police used tear gas to disperse the protesters.

While addressing the traders, the President-General of AMATAAS, Chief Okwudili Ezenwankwo, urged them to be calm, saying further consultation would be made by the association to get clear picture of the situation.

Also, the Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Uche Eze, said there was no need to panic, nothing that the police were handling the situation.

Eze enjoined the people of the state to go about their businesses without fear of molestation.

A senior officer in the Nigerian Prisons Service in the state who spoke on the condition of anonymity to our correspondent, however, said they got a signal recently to prepare to receive some detainees of the violent sect.

But the Nigeria Prisons Service has said there is no plan to transfer Boko Haram suspects in custody to prisons in Anambra State as being speculated.

The NPS Public Relations Officer, Francis Enebore, said most of the terror suspects in prison custody are still awaiting trial and cannot be moved out of the jurisdiction of the court where they would be prosecuted.

He dismissed speculations that the prison authorities had formalised plans to transfer terror suspects from the northern states to Anambra State, saying there is nothing like that.

Enebore said, “Most of the terror suspects are awaiting trial and so, there is no way they can be moved to another state because they must be tried in the state where they committed the crime.

“Apart from this, our duty is to move them from prison to court for trial and since they have not been convicted, how can we transfer them to other states outside the jurisdiction of the court where they would be tried? People are just saying things they know nothing about, there is no truth to the rumours that we are transferring terror suspects to other states.”

Horlawoomey:
Its one Nigeria now.

Adeoba10:
U hear rumour, u carry placards, if dey come carry out d action nko...

PhockPhockMan:

There is some atom of truth in every rumour.

My brother, don't blame them because prevention is better than cure

PhockPhockMan:

One Nigeria, on one condition,
JUSTICE AND FAIR PLAY

Seun, lalasticlala.

kotv:
he bombed calabar

kotv:
They want to transfer Boko Haram prisoners to anambra. That's too close for comfort. Anambra to river state is how long again? PMB is planning something. First he is planning to build a nuclear plant in Akwa Ibom, he bombed calabar and now this. The dullard is planning something obviously.

“Apart from this, our duty is to move them from prison to court for trial and since they have not been convicted, how can we transfer them to other states outside the jurisdiction of the court where they would be tried? People are just saying things they know nothing about, there is no truth to the rumours that we are transferring terror suspects to other states.”

youngberry001:
which kind shi*t protest is that if they can't not be control by police make unah call us soldiers to wipe them off no west time



#team-military

ramdris:
What's quite amusing about this protest is that, these guys are acting as if those supposedly detainees will be kept in their living room, lol. For God sake they are gonna be kept in prison where no body wanna go!.

With due respect, I do think our great eastern brothers apply to many sentiment nd meaning to issues that does not necessarily requires such. Do they even know that some convicted BH prisoners are in Enugu and Rivers?. Transfer of Prisoners is a common thing done all d time and one wonders why the fuss about this.

If their fear is security reasons, that makes it more ridiculous. I said this because trucks from north enters east, West and every part of Nigeria everyday and who monitors if there are no BH amongst those emigrating?

Let us all threads softly for one love and commitment is what we move us forward.

Olsoo:
Jobless traders. Them no go market go sell jeje...now they'll start blaming the government for poverty

ramdris:
What's quite amusing about this protest is that, these guys are acting as if those supposedly detainees will be kept in their living room, lol. For God sake they are gonna be kept in prison where no body wanna go!.

With due respect, I do think our great eastern brothers apply to many sentiment nd meaning to issues that does not necessarily requires such. Do they even know that some convicted BH prisoners are in Enugu and Rivers?. Transfer of Prisoners is a common thing done all d time and one wonders why the fuss about this.

If their fear is security reasons, that makes it more ridiculous. I said this because trucks from north enters east, West and every part of Nigeria everyday and who monitors if there are no BH amongst those emigrating?

Let us all threads softly for one love and commitment is what we move us forward.

PhockPhockMan:

Illiteracy, E no go better for you.

boboLIL:
Buhari hate d fact dah eastern side 0f Nigeria has bin peaceful and naw he wants t0 ruin 0ur happiness... G0d punish yhu dia....

Euro31:

PhockPhockMan:

There is some atom of truth in every rumour.

My brother, don't blame them because prevention is better than cure

omenka:
Wow, really?? Heard you ***ked a cow last night. How much "atoms" of truth is there in that