Edo traders embark on strike over alleged market leader’s N100 daily feeding levy

Traders in Ogiso market in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State on Wednesday embarked on a strike over imposition of N100 daily levy to allegedly feed the market leader.

DAILY POST also reports that traders at the Ediaken market, popularly known as Uselu market on the Benin-Lagos road axis, were allegedly invaded by thugs who shot sporadically in a bid to overthrow the incumbent leadership of the market.

DAILY POST, however, gathered that scores of persons who sustained gunshot injuries have been hospitalised in undisclosed hospitals in Benin City.

The traders at the Ogiso market who are mainly into fairly used businesses, also complained of N100 daily levy each for waste and tax.

One of the traders, who identified herself as Mrs Blessing Adagbo, noted that paying levies demanded of them by the leadership of the market would amount to N9000 monthly.

Adagbo opined that such amount would take a toll on their businesses.

She added that the only payment known to them was N50 daily for tax.

“All of a sudden, one woman who is claiming to be the market leader has introduced N100 for her feeding money, N100 for environmental fee as well as increased our tax from N50 to N100 daily,” she said.

Also speaking, Jude Okoye, one of the traders, called on Governor Monday Okpebholo to rein in the said market leader.

Okoye added that the traders would continue the strike until the issues are addressed.

“Our major market days are Tuesday and Friday. So, why would they impose a N300 daily levy on us under this harsh economy?

“Some of us spend as much as N1,500 daily on transportation,” he said.

It was gathered that the buyers of fairly used clothes, who come from as far as neighbouring Delta State to buy goods, were disappointed as they could not do business as a result of the strike action.

When contacted, the Chairman, Traders Welfare Union in Edo State, Comrade Lucky Orukpe denounced the levy imposed on the traders, adding that the said market leader would be resisted.

Efforts to reach the said market leader were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report on Wednesday.

On the Uselu market crisis, the traders embarked on a peaceful protest over the alleged Tuesday’s assault on their colleagues by suspected thugs.

The incident which was said to have started on Tuesday snowballed to Wednesday,January 22, 2025, when the traders in their numbers barricaded the Uselu-Lagos road.

The protest, which lasted several hours crippled human and vehicular movements on the busy Ugbowo- Uselu-Lagos road, resulting in heavy gridlock.

A trader who pleaded anonymity said they are happy with the leadership of the market union and wanted them to remain until the end of their tenure.

He, however, said that they were surprised when a dissident group allegedly loyal to the government in power came and wanted to overthrow the market leadership.

“Our women came out to reject the new leadership, and they brought thugs who started shooting yesterday, Tuesday evening, and in the process many of our traders sustained injuries and have been hospitalized .

“Over 30 women were allegedly injured, and that’s why we are protesting today, Wednesday and calling on Governor Monday Okpebholo to address the issue of thugs taking over our market and overthrowing our union leaders in a very violent and disturbing manner,” he said.

Edo traders embark on strike over alleged market leader’s N100 daily feeding levy