The Adjen Kotoku onion market has been shut down after armed men from a rival faction allegedly stormed the area in an attempt to take control, leaving several traders injured and raising fresh security concerns.
The incident, which has disrupted trading activities at one of the country’s key onion hubs, is also said to be linked to growing allegations of political interference in the management of the market.
Spokesperson for the Onion Sellers Association, Mustapha Sulemana Talimu, confirmed the closure on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, and described the situation as troubling for traders whose livelihoods depend on the facility.
“We can confirm that the market has been shut down following the attack,” he said, adding that the violence has created fear among traders and halted business operations.
The development also comes amid reports that trucks carrying onions bound for Ghana have been blocked in Nigeria, in what is believed to be a retaliatory action connected to an earlier dispute involving some Ghanaian traders.
Speaking to Citi News, spokesperson for the Onion Sellers Association, Mustapha Sulemana Talimu, called for urgent government intervention to prevent further escalation of the situation.
“As I speak, they are with guns… they said they don’t want anybody in the market,” he said.
He added that previous interventions to resolve the dispute had not been sustained, prompting renewed tensions.
Traders at the market are appealing for swift security action to restore calm and ensure an uninterrupted supply of onions to local markets.
