Juliet Jacob, our Reporter who visited Banex Plaza, the popular cell phone market in the nation’s capital, Abuja writes that commercial and business activities have resumed with tight security in place.
Banex Plaza in Abuja, renowned for its diverse range of electronic and telecommunications products, has resumed operations after a temporary closure following an attack on soldiers.
The Nigerian Army confirmed the reopening on Monday, attributing it to a consensus reached among authorities, plaza management, and the traders’ association.
The plaza had been closed for over a week after a mob attacked Nigerian army personnel on May 18.
Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, announced the reopening in a statement, revealing that a high-level meeting was held in the Office of the National Security Adviser. The meeting included representatives from the National Security Adviser’s office, the FCT Commissioner of Police, the FCT Director of the Department of State Services, Banex Plaza leadership, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board, and the Mobile Phone Traders Association.
The primary goal of the meeting was to identify and apprehend the perpetrators of the attack and ensure ongoing security in the Federal Capital Territory.
“The following resolutions were agreed upon: Immediate reopening of Banex Plaza to the public and the leadership of Banex Plaza is instructed to lock up Shop C93 with immediate effect. The owners of the shop who orchestrated the mob attack on the soldiers are to be arrested and handed over to the Nigerian Police,” Nwachukwu stated.
He added that market leaders must remain vigilant and report any remaining perpetrators to the authorities.
“Two individuals arrested have already been handed over to the Nigerian Army Corps of Military Police for further action.
“The army will also investigate the circumstances of their personnel’s presence at the plaza and the subsequent attack.
Nwachukwu emphasized that violence against military personnel threatens national security and public order.
He urged the public to exercise caution and use established channels to report grievances or misconduct by military personnel.
“The Nigerian Army remains committed to ensuring the safety and security of all citizens and will continue to work diligently to prevent such incidents in the future,” he said.
During the closure, traders faced significant financial challenges. “The closure hit us hard. We had to rely on our savings, but thank God we are back to business,” a trader named Ope told Africa Health Report.
In a conversation with AHR, another trader known as Mr KC expressed that shutting down the plaza was not amusing, but he is glad that they are now back to work.
Mr. Ahmed, noted the economic impact on traders, expressing relief over the reopening. “Many of our members lost significant revenue during the closure. We are relieved that the plaza has reopened and we can resume our businesses,” he said.
On visiting the plaza, the vibrant atmosphere indicated a swift return to normalcy, with vendors and customers bustling around the reopened shops.
