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Chetanne Chinelo, Enugu

An unidentified male has been feared killed on Wednesday as traders of Ogbete Main Market in Enugu State protested the sealing off of their shops by the state government.

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Following the state government’s ban on the illegal sit-at-home declared by Simon Ekpa, the Governor Peter Mbah administration in Enugu State had sealed some shops for not opening for business on Monday.

The state government had earlier held townhall meetings with different sectors and groups in the state to galvanize support in ending the sit-at-home. Gov. Mbah, during market visits on previous Mondays, cautioned that the state government would seal off shops of those who refused to open business on Mondays in the name of obeying the sit-at-home order.

In protest, traders whose business premises were sealed trooped out on Wednesday to express their displeasure over the development.

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Although the protest started peacefully, some video clips making rounds on social media and sighted by our correspondent showed that the protest became violent at some point along the Ogui Road axis of the state.

As at the time of writing this report, it is not clear who shot at the unidentified male.

However, a source who spoke to our correspondent on the condition of anonymity said it was a local vigilante officer who tried to quell the violent protest that shot at the male.

The state police command is yet to issue an official statement.

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Recall that on Monday, July 24, 2023, a coalition of civil society organisations and residents of Enugu staged a march in solidarity with the government’s ban on sit-at-home tagged ‘Enough is Enough’.