The popular Banex Plaza in Abuja’s Wuse 2 area has reopened after a week-long closure imposed by the military.
The plaza resumed operations around 2:30 PM on Monday, following public outcry and pressure from various quarters.
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The military had sealed the market on May 18 after a violent altercation between traders and military personnel.
The conflict began when thugs attacked soldiers who had come to resolve a dispute involving a trader accused of selling a defective phone.
According to reports, the trader called in thugs instead of settling the matter amicably, leading to an assault on two soldiers and a civilian.
The thugs reportedly broke into groups, beating and kicking the soldiers.
Although the police intervened to manage the situation, soldiers later returned to the plaza, prompting an immediate shutdown of all business activities.
The military’s action drew significant criticism from human rights activists, including Senior Advocate of Nigeria Femi Falana, and various Civil Society Organisations.
They argued that while the trader’s actions were inappropriate, closing the entire plaza was an excessive response.
In response to the backlash, the military initially stated that the market would remain closed until those responsible for the attacks were identified and apprehended.
However, mounting pressure led to the decision to reopen the plaza, allowing traders to resume their businesses.
