The whereabouts of four vigilante operators who allegedly broke into three businesses stole around fifteen million naira, and fled at night at the Marvic plaza Sokoto road axis of Onitsha main market have many traders in the renowned Onitsha main market upset.
The management of the plaza where the incident occurred recently fired a security firm hired to watch the plaza over some differences, according to newsmen following the incident, and transferred responsibility to new operatives.
The victims learned they had been robbed when they arrived at the market in the morning and found that their shops had been destroyed and money from previous sales totalling roughly fifteen million dollars had been carried away.
The vigilante operators vanished when they went looking for them, according to sources in the plaza. It is believed that they departed the scene the night of the event and were not seen again until the press conference.
When Mr Emeka Mbachu, the chairman of the Sokoto traders union, confirmed the occurrence to newsmen, he expressed regret for the incident while also pointing out that the traders at the plaza are not members of their association because the plaza is not affiliated with the association.
He emphasised the tight-knit security system his group had in place to protect its members and thanked the Anambra government for its assistance.
Contacted to confirm the incident, ASP Tochukwu Ikenga, Anambra state police public relations officer said the incident is yet to be reported to the police as there is no record of it. He however advised the victims to report immediately to the police in Onitsha or contact him through his phone number.