A trader in Onitsha has taken to social media in tears after her newly opened shop was reportedly demolished in the middle of the night at the popular Onitsha Main Market.
According to reports circulating online, the woman had opened the shop less than four months ago, investing her savings into the business with hopes of building a stable source of income.
However, those hopes were reportedly shattered when officials allegedly sent by Chukwuma Soludo carried out a demolition exercise around midnight.
Eyewitness accounts claim the operation happened under the cover of darkness, with structures being pulled down and goods destroyed in the process. The woman alleged that her entire shop — including merchandise worth a significant amount of money — was reduced to rubble.
In a video that has since sparked reactions online, she can be seen crying and lamenting the sudden loss, questioning why such action would be taken without what she described as adequate notice or an opportunity to salvage her goods. The incident has reignited conversations about urban redevelopment efforts, enforcement operations, and the impact of such exercises on small business owners struggling to survive in Nigeria’s current economic climate.
While authorities are yet to release an official statement addressing the specific claims, the situation has generated widespread debate, with many calling for clearer communication, proper notice, and humane enforcement procedures during demolition exercises.
Watch the video below for more details.
