A female trader at Lafenwa Market in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Adetoun Oyenekan, has come forward with allegations of her wares being confiscated by the female head of the market, Iyaloja (Alhaja) Sidi Owe.
According to Daily Trust, Mrs. Oyenekan disclosed to journalists that she suffered the loss of her business when the market’s leadership, in collaboration with the babaloja, forcefully dismantled her stall, effectively leaving her with nothing to sell.
The aggrieved trader, specializing in baby toys and stationery, estimated the value of the goods taken from her stall to be well over one million Naira.
Mrs Oyenekan said, “I was passing by in the market yesterday (Thursday) when the iyaloja pushed me. I didn’t say anything. She did it a second time and I asked why. I told her to stop acting that way. She started saying all sorts of things.
“The next thing she did was to get a red and white tape to seal off my stall. I protested, I asked her to tell me what I did wrong.
“They carted away my wares worth over N1m. She slapped me several times and I retaliated. She pulled down my counter. She was supported by the babaloja.”
However the iyaloja denied slapping Oyenekan, saying, “She was the one who slapped me.”
The iyaloja, who did not deny carting away the trader’s wares, said it was the punishment for assaulting a market leader.
Mrs Owe, who expressed surprise that a trader could slap the iyaloja, said, “If she wants to sue us, she should go to court. The market’s lawyers will respond.”
