‘They collected N40,000 for each store, then chased us out with thugs’ - Sapele Market Women
Leaders of the protesting market women said the council compelled them to pay a commencement fee of N40,000 each to it, before they can resume business in the newly-constructed 1,532 units of stores in the market. They said after they had paid, the local government officials, accompanied by thugs, drove them away from the market, saying they can neither occupy the road nor the stores.
One of their leaders, Mrs. Aminoma McGrey, said:
“The council has forbidden us from trading on the road side. They also asked us
to pay N40,000 each as commencement fee before assigning the stores to us, and
we paid. “Why will they then send thugs after us? Why will they force us out of
the stores? If that is the case, let them refund our money. We are ready to go
back to where we were.
“We are shocked that after we had paid N40,000 each to
the council, it turned around and directed one Bobo and his gang to eject us
from the stores today (yesterday).” Some of their placards read “We no go gree
o we no go gree” (we won’t accept), “We want our money back,” “You cannot
collect N40,000 from each of us and chase us out,”
“Restore our stores to us or
there will be trouble,” among others, while some were brandishing tree
branches. Efforts to reach the Head of Personal Management of the council at
press time were not successful, but a revenue officer in the council, Mr.
Christmas Godwin, who assisted in restoring peace, said “the situation is under
control.”
Vanguard
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