By Ovat Abeng
Victims of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) raid that took place first quarter of 2025 at the popular Onitsha Drug Market (Ogbaugo market), in Anambra State has appeal to the State Government, to urgently intervened in their present situations reported to have emanated from the raid.
They lamented that the incident has seriously affected their means of livelihood to a devastated point that they can’t longer afford to feed themselves and families.
The traders numbering over 130 made the appeal, on Friday 17th October, 2025 at the Onitsha High Court premises during their pre-trial conference in a case between Udoka line, a section of the drug market and it care-taker committee leadership over alleged monetary compensation dispute.
Worth to recall that NAFDAC between February and May 2025 shut down the market following a large-scale operation to curb the sale of substandard and adulterated medicines in Anambra State.
A combined enforcement team comprising the military, police, Department of State Services (DSS), and NAFDAC officials raided the market, confiscated unregistered and falsified drugs worth millions of naira.
During the raid, NAFDAC Southeast Zonal Director, Dr. Martins Iluyomade, stated that the exercise was part of ongoing efforts to eliminate counterfeit medicines and protect public health, alleging that some traders were packaging harmful substances for human consumption in the market.
Speaking further on behalf of the Udoka line traders, Mr Emmanuel Ozoemenam, call on the state governor, Chukwuma Charles Soludo to urgently come to their aide, noting that the situation has turned them to bergers amidst millions of naira indebtedness.
“As I speak to you right now, we are been mock on daily basis by the leadership of the market, led by the care-taker committee Chairman, Mr Chukwulenta Nduibusi.
“The 130 of us trading in Udoka line of the drug market are currently displace financially. Our lives no longer the same again. We are completely down financially. We now trade in fears. Hunger and persistent hardship has become part of our existence. Nothing is working again for us in the market. All is not well us again at the moment, and the anger, confusion and frustration may trigger us and other traders in Onitsha market as a whole to work against governor Soludo’s reelection bid ahead of the forthcoming November 8, 2025 gubernatorial election in the state.
Ozoemenam also appeal to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervened to enable them fence for their families.
It was gathered that the Court after the pre-trial briefing announced February 3rd, 8th, 12th, 19th, 23rd and 26th, 2026 respectively for hearing.
