Ghana-Bound Onion Trucks Held Hostage in Nigeria Amid Trade Feud

Several trucks transporting vegetables to Ghana have been detained in Nigeria following rising tensions between traders in both countries. The incident reportedly occurred in Samia, a town in Kebbi State, where suspected armed men blocked and held Ghanaian trucks carrying onions from Niger en route to Ghana. The move is believed to be a retaliation after some Nigerian onion traders in Accra allegedly faced restrictions from Ghanaian traders, preventing them from offloading their goods. The stranded trucks, loaded mainly with onions, have been held for nearly three days, raising fears that the perishable goods may go to waste. Drivers say they routinely purchase produce from Galimi in the Republic of Niger and transport it through Nigeria, Benin, Togo, and into Ghana. One of the affected drivers, Awudu Tiajni, expressed frustration over the situation, saying their goods are already deteriorating. He appealed to the government, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to urgently intervene. Meanwhile, Accra-based onion trader Alhaji Fuseini Atiiga explained that the dispute is also rooted in disagreements over how trucks are distributed upon arrival in Ghana. According to him, about 52 trucks are typically allocated among trader associations, but a majority reportedly go to one group—an arrangement Nigerian traders have strongly opposed.