Traders, in the early hours of Tuesday, fled the popular Ogbeogono Market in Asaba, Delta state following fetish substance including dead rats, native chalks found at the premises.
In a mild drama, the traders in anger attacked security agents of the market who they alleged were privy to the fetish substances that were deposited at every nook and cranny of the market.
An eyewitness, Ochei Matthew told Daily Post that the fetish substances were deposited in the market by aggrieved members of the market Union who allegedly had been plotting the removal of the current Union executives over irreconcilable differences.
He said “the fetish substance including dead rats, native chalks were found littered at every nook and cranny of the market, and during investigation, it was discovered that some aggrieved members of the market Union plotting the removal of the current Union executives did it.”
It was gathered that trouble started after the new executives, led by Chief Tony Adegbede was sworn-in, leaving serious injuries in the heart of the aggrieved members.
Confirming the incident, One of the aggrieved members of the market Union, Chucks Nnamdi said “we will not relent in our fight because Tony was elected without due process, we have a constitution which was not followed, and he is supported by the council Boss, Uche Osadebe. The fetish substance including dead rats, native chalks were deposited by our men, it is the beginning of the troubles.”
But the Oshimili South council Boss, Mr Uche Osadebe, who spoke to Daily Post confirmed that the Tony-led executives were recognized, adding “whatever had remained the troubles, we are solidly behind Tony led Exco; the fetish substance was mere distraction, we have moved into the crisis to ensure it’s resolved, we are talking with aggrieved members of the market Union to calm them down.”
Further investigation revealed that unauthorized agents allegedly attack traders who fail to pay illegal levies of N400,00 everyday.
The illegal agents, it was gathered, often dressed in the council uniform, with the inscription “Revenue agent” and in most cases were armed with cane to flog any of the traders not willing to “cooperate” with them.
Mrs Edith Adigwe,a trader in the market who spoke to Daily Post said “we have been paying this illegal levy over a year now; we have written the council to no avail, every day we pay N400,00 and other agents will come to collect their own too, because the Union is in crisis, we have nobody to cry to.”
In swift reaction, the Council boss, Osadebe denied knowledge of the illegal agents, saying “we have a petition from the traders, it’s receiving attention, we are investigating the act, we have our own Revenue agents, the council is not aware of the illegal levies, there is a levy traders pay every day as revenue, not illegal.”
