*”Soludo’s Approach Is Unconstructive” — Rep. Aguocha
The Anambra State Government has directed all categories of schools in the state to ensure full resumption of academic activities on Mondays, warning that non-compliant schools would be shut down.
The Commissioner for Education, Prof. Ngozi Chuma-Udeh, disclosed this in a statement on Thursday in Awka, adding that a circular conveying the directive had already been issued to school authorities.
“The order, given at the instance of Gov. Chukwuma Soludo, applies to all public, private, mission and returned schools across the state. Any school that fails to resume activities on Mondays will face immediate closure,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police in Anambra State, CP Ikioye Orutugu, has led the enforcement of security operatives at the Onitsha Main Market to enforce the one-week closure ordered by Governor Soludo.
As a result of the directive, on Tuesday, the market was barricaded by security agencies, with hundreds of security personnel seen around the area, while armoured personnel carriers and Hilux vans were used to block strategic locations across the market.
The security personnel prevented traders and any other person from moving into the market.
Speaking on Thursday during the reinforcement exercise at the market, CP Orutugu said his presence is to further reinforce public order, safety, and confidence across the metropolis and its environs.
“This is a security assessment tour, to personally supervise and evaluate the deployment of Police-led Joint Security Forces at strategic locations within Onitsha,” he said.
“This proactive engagement underscores the Command’s resolve to maintain peace, ensure compliance with lawful directives, and prevent any breach of public order.
“The security situation in Onitsha remains calm and firmly under control, as the Command continues to reassure residents, traders, and commuters of their safety.”
The development led to a series of protests by some residents and traders who, on Wednesday, blocked the ever-busy Asaba-Onitsha Expressway leading to the River Niger bridge for several minutes before security personnel came to disperse the protesters.
Governor Soludo had on Monday ordered the closure of the Onitsha Main Market for one week following traders’ failure to comply with the state government’s directive to disregard the Monday sit-at-home order.
Soludo said the Monday sit-at-home had no legal backing and was crippling businesses and livelihoods in Anambra, undermining government efforts to restore normal economic activities.
Soludo said the Monday sit-at-home had no legal backing and was crippling businesses and livelihoods in Anambra, undermining government efforts to restore normal economic activities.
The Monday sit-at-home was initiated in 2021 by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in the South-East to protest the arrest and detention of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
The protest rule that residents stay off work and keep businesses closed every Monday originally coincided with Kanu’s scheduled court appearances. Residents and traders who defied the Monday sit-at-home directive and went about their businesses were frequently targeted by its enforcers.
In November 2025, a federal high court in Abuja sentenced Kanu to life imprisonment for terrorism charges.
Meanwhile, Obi Aguocha, a member of the House of Representatives representing Ikwuano, Umuahia North, and Umuahia South, has criticised Governor Soludo over his handling of efforts to end the Monday sit-at-home in the state.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Aguocha said Soludo’s actions, though well-intentioned, were implemented in an “unconstructive and unacceptable manner.”