Traders at Ekeukwu market in Owerri Imo State, on Monday, deserted their businesses over a threatening letter sent to them by gunmen.
The situation affected most residents, as few people were walking on the streets and roads of Owerri.
Only a few commercial vehicles and cars were seen on the roads, though schools, banks, eatery houses, motor parks, and business joints were open for business.
Traders in other markets in the state, because of the fear already created, could not open their shops and businesses for fear of attack.
A trader in the market who does not want to be mentioned said that the anger of the gunmen, according to the letter, is that the traders in the market in Owerri have not been keeping to the sit-at-home order every Monday.
The unsuspecting gunmen had last week Saturday, in their letter, threatened to unleash an attack on the traders of the Ekeukwu Owerri market because of their failure to keep to the order.
According to the letter, the group said that because of their failure to observe the sit-at-home order, they should wait for their attack any moment.
Worried by the situation, the leadership of the market immediately on the same day of receiving the letter had gone around the market with gong informing the traders about the situation.
When contacted by the Imo State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, he advised the traders to ignore such information and continue with their business.
He advised them that if there is such Information, they should inform the Nigerian Police for immediate action.
