Newspaper distributors and vendors in Onitsha, Anambra State on Friday protested the mass destruction of newspapers by officials of the Onitsha North Local Government over environmental pollution.
The vendors under the aegis of Onitsha Newspapers Directors and Distributors Association, marched through the streets of Onitsha, Nkpor and Obosi, impeding movement of vehicles as they did.
They carried placards with inscriptions like, ‘Anambra State government caution Onitsha North chairman,’ ‘Anambra State government, don’t declare war against vendors,’ ‘Governor Peter Obi caution your task force men,’ ‘Vendors are not part of the people polluting the environment,’ ‘Enough is enough to assault on the vendors, ‘Onitsha North chairman, is it part of your duty to stop the sale of newspapers in Onitsha?’
The Anambra Broadcasting Service and newspaper offices on Old Market Road, New Market Road, Awka Road, Old and New Nkpor Roads, Upper Iweka and Owerri Road were also visited by the protesters.
The distributors and vendors refused to sell newspapers that arrived in Onitsha from Lagos on Friday morning and threatened to continue with their protest until the council chairman stopped the harassment.
