Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian military has reopened Banex Plaza in the Wuse 2 area of Abuja for business after a week-long closure. The popular market resumed operations around 2:30 pm on Monday, following its closure on May 18 due to a violent clash between traders and military personnel.
The incident began when thugs allegedly assaulted some soldiers who disagreed with a trader at the plaza. The conflict reportedly stemmed from the trader selling a defective phone to a customer, who then called the soldiers for assistance. Although the police initially intervened to resolve the situation, soldiers later returned to the plaza, leading to its abrupt closure and the forced shutdown of businesses by the traders.
The military’s actions drew widespread condemnation from human rights activists, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana, as well as various civil society organizations. They criticized the military’s heavy-handed approach and called for the immediate reopening of the market.
Business activities at Banex Plaza resumed smoothly once the military lifted the siege, bringing relief to traders and customers who rely on the bustling market for their livelihoods.
