The Nigerian military has reopened the popular Banex Plaza in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja after an eight-day siege on the business premises. According to sources at the location, the plaza resumed operations on Monday afternoon.
Military authorities shut the complex on May 18 following a violent clash between traders and military personnel. This incident occurred after hoodlums beat up some soldiers who disagreed with a trader in the plaza.
Reportedly, the trader Kola Suleiman Ibrahim had sold a faulty phone to someone who then invited soldiers. Rather than resolving the issue amicably, the trader allegedly invited thugs who assaulted the uniformed men.
The thugs, who broke into groups, slapped, kicked, and beat up the soldiers. The police intervened to restore calm. However, traders fled the premises after soldiers stormed the plaza.
Several citizens and civil societies condemned the military’s action, stating that shutting down the entire business place was an inappropriate act of ‘collective punishment.’
The army initially maintained that until the culprits were apprehended, the market would not be reopened.
Traders at the Banex Plaza lamented the protracted closure of the buildings, saying they have lost about N7 billion in one week.
Over the weekend, the executive committee of Banex Plaza Tenants Association led by the chairman, Chibuike Nzedinma and vice chairman, Cornelius Olayemi expressed their desolation at a press conference in Abuja.
“If we are to put a figure to it, I am sure it is up to N7 billion that we have lost. Also, in a little headcount, the number of shops is more than 800 in Banex both the old and the new plaza”
The vice chairman, Olayemi said the closure of the premises was also taking a toll on banks, consulting firms and thereafter appealed to the federal government to reopen it pending investigation.