Metro

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

Published

4 years ago

April 8, 2020

Editor

… 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

Man Dies On Top Of Married Woman In Akure

Published

5 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Editor

A married man has reportedly died after sleeping with a married woman in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

X user, Bolanle Cole, who shared the story online, said the man left his wife at home to go to a hotel to meet with a married woman and sadly, passed away there.

“A man died of “Magun” Thunderbolt here in Akure. He left his wife at home to meet another man’s wife in a hotel and later pass on. I wish him well.”

Metro

Soldier Dismissed For Sleeping With Colleague’s Wife

Published

6 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Editor

A soldier named Abdullahi Ismail has been dismissed from the Nigerian Army after he was found guilty of having sex with his colleague’s wife.

The Lance Corporal was dismissed during the week at 231 Battalion in Biu, Borno State.

His dismissal is expected to serve as a deterrent to other soldiers involved in the act said to be common in the barracks.

The dismissed soldier had a notorious history of sexual indiscipline before he was reported to the army authorities, a source told SaharaReporters.

His offence – indecent professional misconduct and having sex with a fellow soldier’s wife – contravenes Sections 79 and 93 of the Armed Forces Act CAP A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

The law prescribes jail term and dismissal from service with dishonour.

Metro

Edo: Suspected Killers Of 200-level Student Of Delta Varsity Arrested

Published

7 hours ago

May 5, 2024

Editor

Two suspects have been reportedly arrested by operatives of Edo State Police Command in connection with the disappearance of one Miss Faith Omodon, a 200-level undergraduate of University of Delta, Agbor.

On March 30, inhabitants of Iru Egbede community in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo, reported the sudden disappearance of their daughter, Faith Omodon, who is studying Business Administration in the above mentioned university.

According to the father of the missing girl, Mr. Edward Omodon, was last seen on March 30, after leaving home for farm and never returned.

According to him, the incident occurred when the community was holding their national conference.

“We usually have Iru national conference at this time of the year. We were seated inside the community hall when we heard loud wailing outside that my daughter was missing.

“She had left for the farm earlier that morning with a motorbike taking her breakfast flask with her,” he said.

Corroborating Mr Omodon’s story, Mr Ikpoba Johnbull, Head of the village vigilance group said “soon after the news of her disappearance broke that evening, we followed the girl’s mother to the farm.

“We immediately mobilised and combed the area up to Izighiri and Uwumuwe, two neighbouring villages, but could not find any trace of her.

“We only found the leftover of her lunch flask. We informed our neighbouring vigilance groups as we spent that night inside the bushes but there was no result.”

Then, the matter was reported at the Abudu Police Division which was confirmed by Divisional Police Officer, Mr Iyayi Kenneth, who said “We have transferred the case to the state police command for further investigation.”

The Command’s Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, also confirmed the story, saying investigation was on to unravel the circumstances surrounding Miss Omodon’s disappearance.

However, barely a month, the vigilante group in the community said two suspects have been arrested in connection with the disappearance of Omodon and are now in Police custody.

Speaking, the National Youth Chairman of Iru- Egbede, Mr. Donald Isioma, disclosed that the suspects were arrested Saturday afternoon.

He said the two were arrested when they tracked the phone of the missing girl that was in possession of the suspects.

According to Isioma, so far, the police have recovered the phone from the suspects and the motorbike Miss Omodon rode to the farm on the day she got missing.

Unfortunately, he disclosed that one of the suspects who is a member of the community has confessed that they have killed the girl while being interrogated at Okpaihe Police State before their onward transfered to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Benin City.

When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said information concerning the arrest was yet to reach him but promised to get back as soon as he contact men of the SCID.