Traders flee as fetish objects take over Asaba Market

Traders, in the early hours of on 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 who spoke to DAILY POST 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."