Traders at Ariaria International Market in Aba, Abia State, have staged a protest over the death of their colleague, Ikem Uchendu, who was allegedly killed during a dispute over shop ownership.

The protesters, mostly from the A-Line section of the market, marched through the area on Monday, carrying placards and chanting slogans demanding justice for Uchendu.

The tragic incident has sent shockwaves through the trading community, igniting anger and calls for immediate government action.

Uchendu, a well-known trader in the market, succumbed to injuries after being stabbed with a bottle during an altercation with thugs allegedly sent by the developer overseeing the market’s remodeling, Blessed Henken International Limited.

He was hospitalized for days but eventually died, leaving his family and colleagues devastated.
One of the protesters, who identified herself as Ngozi, said Uchendu was attacked for reclaiming his shop, which had reportedly been reassigned to someone else without his consent.

“Uchendu fought for his shop because it was his only source of livelihood,” she said.

The traders accused Blessed Henken International Limited of using intimidation tactics and flouting directives issued by the Abia State Judicial Panel of Inquiry on the recovery of government properties and funds.

They claimed that the developer has been reallocating shops to the highest bidders, depriving original owners of their rightful properties.

“The government promised that these shops would go back to us, the rightful owners,” said another trader, Chukwudi.

“Instead, they are giving them to rich buyers, while we are left to suffer.”

The protestors also alleged that Uchendu’s death was part of a larger pattern of harassment and violence against traders resisting the irregularities.

Carrying placards that read, “Justice for Uchendu” and “Stop Harassing Traders,” the group called for immediate government intervention to resolve the crisis.

According to the demonstrators, the ongoing shop allocation conflict has not only caused unrest but also disrupted their livelihoods, plunging many into financial hardship.

Blessed Henken International Limited, the developer accused of orchestrating the attack, has denied any involvement in Uchendu’s death or the alleged harassment of traders.In a statement, a representative of the company insisted that all operations have been conducted transparently and in line with the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU).

However, the traders strongly disagreed, accusing the developer of ignoring the MoU, which reportedly stipulated that original shop owners should be prioritized in the allocation process.

The traders had previously petitioned the Abia State governor, alleging that the remodeled shops were being sold to wealthy individuals, leaving the original traders out in the cold.

In response, the state government established a Judicial Panel of Inquiry, which issued directives intended to address the grievances.

The protesters argue that these directives have been ignored, worsening tensions between traders and the developer.

Speaking on the matter, a spokesperson for the protesting traders urged the government to take immediate action.

“We are calling on the state governor to intervene and stop this injustice,” the spokesperson said.

“This is no longer just about shops—it’s about the life of a man who died fighting for his rights.”

The death of Uchendu has reignited calls for stricter regulation and oversight of public-private partnership projects in Abia State, particularly in cases involving the displacement of local businesses.