Tension has continued to mount in Anambra State following the consistent destruction of newspapers and newsstands in various cities in the state.
According to Vanguard, Newspapers being destroyed were Vanguard, The Nation, The Sun, Punch, Guardian and other publications by agitators.
For the past one week, touts engaged by the Awka Capital Territory Development Authority, ACTDA, have been beating up newspaper vendors in the state.
On Thursday, the government -empowered touts descended on the vendors at the popular Aroma junction in Awka, destroying their tables and POS machines.
The touts boasted that they would continue the battle against the vendors, asking them to report to whoever they chose to.They claimed that the governor was fully aware of what they were doing and supports their action.
One of the vendors, Nancy, who cried profusely wondered why Governor Chukwuma Soludo should allow touts to be destroying the means of livelihood of poor people.
She urged proprietors of the various newspapers to prevail on the governor to stop the harassment of vendors in the state, warning that they would soon stop selling newspapers in Anambra State.
In spite of booing by passersby, the touts continued their operation.
Last week, the action of ACTDA officials attracted the attention of the state lawmakers, who frowned at the ongoing destruction in the state capital.
They advocated for the setting up of mini markets to put an end to street trading and associated effects on the state capital.
“There are many quarters within Awka Metropolis where government can establish local mini-markets to serve the people living within those areas.
“It is almost impossible to secure a shop within the already established markets and the cost of the limited shops available are high and exorbitant for poor people to rent.
“The creation of mini-markets within Awka will be a solution to the menace of street trading and serve as a means of encouraging micro businesses, thereby achieving the goals of making Anambra a livable and prosperous homeland”, the member representing Awka South 1 constituency, Hon Henry Mbachu who sponsored the motion said.
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