Metro

COVID-19: Edo Govt Enforces Market Relocation Order As Market Women Groan

Published

6 years ago

April 8, 2020

… Public Transporters Hike T-fare

By Joe Ebi

The directive given by the Edo State government some days back that all markets in the state should be shut down and consequently relocated to a nearby primary school was implemented on Wednesday, April 7.

The state government had on Monday, April 6 ordered the shut down and relocation of major markets in the state.

Evbuotubu market, Egor LGA , Benin City, deserted when Info Daily visited on Wednesday.

Deputy Governor of the state, Philp Shaibu, while briefing newsmen on the said date, said the closure and reloaction of the markets was to enable the government fumigate them in order to curtail the spread of the novel Coronavirus in the state.

He noted that after the markets must have been successfully fumigated, they would be open for full operations and that businesses would return to normalcy.

Still scene of Evbuotubu market on Wednesday when Info Daily visited

Meanwhile, INFO DAILY’s visit to one of the markets, Evbuotubu market, our reporter observed empty and deserted market while some women were seen in their 3, 4, discussing the new development.

Security personnel were also seen patrolling the market area with their hillux van to make sure people adhere to the directive.

Chicken section of Oliha market empty as at when Info Daily visited on Wednesday

A market woman spoke in pidgin with INFO DAILY but does not want her name mentioned in print, said there are other pressing issues government ought to attend to for market women rather than shutting down markets and reloacting them.

According to her, at Evbuotubu market, they pay N400 revenue to the government everyday, stressing that this ought not to be.

Scene of the ever busy Oliha market, Benin

While lamenting that all roads that link Evbuotubu have been a death trap for years, she called on the government to quickly rehabilitate these roads so has to make life easier for residents of the area.

Another women who spoke but does not want her name mentioned as well, said the government would have device another means of achieving it purpose rather than ordering marketers to relocate.

“This Evbuotubu market is for every four four days (sic). The government would have ask us to leave immediately after the regular market and fumigate it within the four days so that we can come for the regular market.

Empty scene of the ever busy Oba market

“Also, the ticket (sic) we are paying everyday is too much. We pay N400 to the government everyday when all what some people make in a day is not even much”, she noted.

At Oliha market, the story was not different as the ever busy market was empty and deserted. Both regular and mobile policemen were seen standing at strategic locations apparently to enforce the government’s directive.

Meanwhile, visit to the popular Oba market, Oredo local government area, Benin shows the narrative was the same.

Scene of Oba market, Benin

As at when INFO DAILY was there, market men and women had been relocated while fumigation of the market and its environs had already commenced.

In another development, public transporters have increased transport fare within Benin metropolis.

Investigation by INFO DAILY revealed that, in adherence to government’s directive of 2 persons in a roll and I person at the front, some drivers have increased their their charges by 100% while some increased theirs by 50%.

Still Oba Market , Benin

INFO DAILY gathered this at Evbuotubu market to ring road and other places visited today.

Recall, when government gave the directive of 2 persons in a roll, it was said the move was to maintain the social distancing precaution, warning that, this does not give motorists go ahead to hike their charges.

Kelly Okogbowa, Vice Chairman, Edo State Taskforce Technical Committee on COVID-19, while giving the directive on behalf of the state government on Friday April 3rd said, “You are are to load two passengers at the back seat, two passengers at the middle seat and one passenger at the front seat. If you load more than this requirement, you will be arrested and be prosecuted accordingly.

Shops under lock and key at the popular Oba Market

“The state government wants to curb the spread of Coronavirus so this is how it will be for now.

“You are not paying for ticket, that has been suspended. Fuel price has drop, so you are not expected to increase your price. You have no reason to inflate transport fare because what could have led you to do so had been addressed by the government. And so, you are expected to charge the old price.”

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Metro

My Wife Is Childless, Refuses To Pray, Fights Me All The Time, Man Tells Court

Published

3 hours ago

November 15, 2025

Editor

Grade A Customary Court, sitting at Mapo, Ibadan, Oyo State, has adjourned until November 24, for further hearing on the divorce suit brought before it by a man, Anjorin, against his wife, Omolabake, whom he accused of irresponsibility, barreness, constant fight and disobedience.

Anjorin stated that their 8-year-old marriage had produced no child because his wife was barren. He also said that Omolabake was in the habit of flouting his orders.

The plaintiff added that the defendant was fond of going out without his consent while she always abandoned her duties in the home.

The plaintiff further said that he regarded the defendant as a heathen since she refused to pray.

Anjorin, therefore, prayed for the dissolution of their wedlock.

Omolabake denied all the allegations brought against her.

She conceded to divorce.

Anjorin, in his evidence, said, “I got married to my wife in 2017, but I did not pay her bride price. “Unfortunately, our 8-year-old union has not produced any child.

“My wife has made our relationship non-interesting to me because of her atrocities.

“Omolabake has refused to be submissive to me. She plans to usurp my position as head of the home.

“My wife flouts my instructions at will and would dare that I did my worst.

“She abandoned her duty of keeping the home.

“My wife refused to do the house chores and always left our home unkempt.

“I took up the responsibility of doing the house chores, but my wife remained ungrateful.

“Omolabake took to leaving home without my consent and would return whenever it pleased her.

“The more I showed my displeasure at this, the worse she became.

“She fights me any time I complain of her misbehaviour.

“My wife is a heathen.

She does not observe the prayer hours as it is expected of her as a Muslim.

“My lord, I am not happy in our marriage because Omolabake has refused that I have rest of mind.

“I pray that the court rule that we go our different ways.”

The president of the court, Mrs S.M. Akintayo, adjourned the case.

Metro

‘My Husband’s Neglect Of Me Led Me Into An Affair With Another Man’

Published

4 hours ago

November 15, 2025

Editor

…She has contracted HIV —Husband

A woman, Mrs Tabitha Iliya, has dragged her husband, Iliya Yaran, to an Upper Customary Court sitting at Daura Road, Kaduna, Kaduna State, praying for divorce over lack of love.

Tabitha, a mother of six, told the court that her husband had failed in providing for the family, a situation that made her cheat on him in order to get fund to purchase their daughter’s drugs.

She told the court that she had stopped sleeping with her husband who usually returned home every three months due to the nature of his work since her intimacy with the other man.

She explained that she had also suffered verbal and physical abuse from her husband, which resulted to her packing out of her matrimonial home for over a year now.

Tabitha stated, “One day, my friend, Esther, asked me to accompany her to a bar, where she was going to meet someone, and I followed her.

“While sitting and gisting, my husband and his friend came to the bar and he started calling me a prostitute and even called one of our sons on phone to come and see what I was doing.”

She said that she left her husband’s house three days after the incident due to constant insults and his demand that she pack out of his house.

The plaintiff stated that she rented a room in another area, but that her husband kept threatening her and even tried to poison her through diabolical means.

She, therefore, prayed the court to dissolve their marriage so that she can have peace of mind.

The judge, Patience Musa, asked Yaran to cross-examine his wife, who then asked her if she had contracted HIV and she answered in the affirmative.

When asked where she got it from, she said it was from God, adding that she no longer loved her husband.

The judge then adjourned the case.

However, shortly after the adjournment, the husband threatened his wife in court, saying she is still his wife and if he catches her with another man again, she will have herself to blame.

The judge quickly intervened and said the court had recorded his threat, adding that if anything happens to the wife, he would be held responsible.

Metro

My Husband Shows His Other Wives More Affection, Woman Tells Court

Published

4 hours ago

November 15, 2025

Editor

A housewife, Rofiat AbdulRofiu, has begged an Area Court in Ilorin, Kwara State, to dissolve her marriage to her husband, Anafi AbdulLateef, on grounds that he shows affection to his three other wives more than her.

”My husband has neglected me and shows love to my three co-wives and his seven children.

”I am no longer interested in our marriage,” she said.

Delivering judgment, the judge, Mr Toyin Aluko, said that Rofiat sent a release letter to the court, agreeing to the divorce application filed by his wife.

Aluko ordered Rofiat to observe one one-month Iddah (waiting) period before she can remarry.

He also granted her custody of their two-year-old baby.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), the judge ordered Anafi to pay N20,000 monthly for the feeding of the child.

He also ordered that the father should be given reasonable time to see his child and be informed of anything pertaining to the baby.

The court directed the court clerk to serve Anafi with a copy of the judgment.