Isolo market leaders, traders lock horns over ‘strange’ water

3 months ago 104

By Eniola Daniel

15 August 2024 | 3:22 am

The decision to lock up shops allegedly belonging to non-indigenous traders in Isolo Market, Isolo Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Lagos, has provoked a storm between market leaders and the affected traders. The Guardian learnt that trouble started on August 8, 2024, when the non-indigenous traders were offered strange water to drink. It was gathered…

The Guardian learnt that trouble started on August 8, 2024, when the non-indigenous traders were offered strange water to drink. It was gathered that traders who refused to drink the ‘prayer water’ were locked out of their shops. White ropes were tied around their premises until about 6:00 p.m. when the shops were reopened after a truce brokered.

One of the traders who spoke with The Guardian on condition of anonymity said: “Whenever they are carrying out their sacrifice in the market, they will tell us that they are doing prayers. After completing their incantations, they take water and a glass cup to the traders to drink.

“The Igbo refused, and when they resumed on Friday, their shops were locked and barricaded with white ropes. They refused to open them until a woman in the market went to plead on their behalf before they were allowed to sell at about 6:00 p.m.

“They had threatened to prevent them from selling for two days for refusing to drink the water, but the intervention of the woman reduced the punishment to hours, and they later allowed them to open.”

When asked if the Igbo were deliberately singled out, he said: “Only the Igbo were asked to drink the water.’’ A female trader, who pleaded anonymity for safety concerns, said: “They brought water for us to drink, but we rejected it. They said that after the person who prayed drank, everyone must drink the water, but I and others refused, and they asked us not to sell.”

An eyewitness and pepper seller in the market, Olaitan Saidat, said: “They did the prayer. The person who prayed drank the water first and asked the rest to drink, but they (Igbo) protested, so they locked up their shops.”

When The Guardian reached out to the Iya Oloja (market leader), popularly known as Alhaja, she demanded the identity of the traders who spoke about the incident before responding.

“I need to know the name of the person who called your office. All of them must speak on the issue and tell me if anything was added to the water before they were given or if I took anything from them before their shops were reopened. I must know the person, or they will not be in the market.”

NOW

The special squad of the Delta State Police Command has arrested three suspected kidnappers for the alleged abduction of a 29-year-old man in Sapele town. The Guardian learnt that the victim, who hails from the Kokori community in Ethiope East Local Council, was abducted on February 17, 2024, by a five-man armed kidnapping syndicate. Confirming…

2 mins ago

The North East Development Commission (NEDC) plans to light up dozens of cities and towns with 12,000 solar-powered electric poles in the Northeast. The solar-powered cities and towns are in the region, which comprises Borno, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Taraba, and Yobe states. According to the commission, installing solar-powered electricity in each of the six states…

19 mins ago

The Police in Ado Ekiti yesterday arraigned two men, Hammed Abdulrasheed and Abiodun Aluko, before the Ado-Ekiti Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing a motorcycle worth N1.2 million. The defendants, whose addresses were not provided, face a two-count charge of stealing and illegally possessing stolen items. The prosecutor, Sgt. Alice Ojo told the court that…

23 mins ago

•Aide dismisses APC’s allegation of palliative diversion Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has paid an on-the-spot assessment visit to the Kano State High Court, vandalised by thugs during the recent nationwide hunger protests. He was conducted around the court premises by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Haruna Isah Dederi; Chief Registrar of the High…

24 mins ago

The University of Calabar (UNICAL) has disclosed that, contrary to reports, it was the university management that discovered and reported the 178 fake Corps members to the National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC). The institution stated this in a statement issued by the Registrar of the university, Gabriel Egbe. The university, however, commended the NYSC for releasing…

26 mins ago

The first-class traditional ruler of Takum, Sopiya Ahmadu Gboshi lll, has alleged that the majority of the criminal activities in the council were being carried out by elements from the neighbouring Katsina-Ala council area of Benue State. The monarch, who the allegation yesterday in a statement, urged calm and restraint from citizens against the backdrop…

33 mins ago

United States Government has committed $27 million in humanitarian funding to support Nigeria as part of its Sub-Saharan African assistance drive. This was disclosed in a statement by the U.S. Mission Nigeria, yesterday, through its official X handle. The agency also confirmed that the $27 million was part of the $536 million earlier announced…

57 mins ago

The Nigerian Association of Pharmacists in Academia's (NAPA) has said that it would hold its 22nd yearly scientific conference from August 19-23, 2024, at the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Sagamu Campus, Ogun State. National Chairman of NAPA, Prof. Ezekiel Olugbenga Akinkunmi, who spoke with journalists in Ile-Ife, on Monday, said that the conference, with the…

58 mins ago

After 31 years, the family of late Head of State, Murtala Mohammed, is still hopeful that the Victims’ Rights Bill will be passed. The family commenced efforts to secure the approval of the bill 31 years ago following the fatal shooting of Zakari Murtala Muhammed, a member of the family. The strong hope for the…

Visit Source