The Head, popularly called ‘Iyaloja’, of Lafenwa Market in Abeokuta North Local Government Area of Ogun State, Alhaja Sidi Owe, has allegedly seized goods worth over N1 million, belonging to a trader in the market, Mrs Adetoun Oyenekan, over a disagreement.
The Iyaloja equally allegedly destroyed the stall of Mrs. Oyenekan.
Oyenekan, who sells baby toys and stationery, claimed that the goods carted away by the market leader were worth over N1 million.
She added that the Iyaloja, allegedly in collaboration with the Babaloja, pulled down her stall, leaving her with nothing.
Speaking on the genesis of the crisis, Oyenekan said the Iyaloja had on Thursday engaged her in a fracas by pushing her.
She explained that the brawl ensued after the market leader slapped her several times and she retaliated.
This incident, she alleged, led to the seizure of her goods and the demolition of her stand in Lafenwa Market.
“I was passing by in the market yesterday (Thursday) when the Iyaloja pushed me, I didn’t say anything. She did it the 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 and asked her to tell me what I did wrong.
“They carted away my wares worth over one million naira. She slapped me several times and I retaliated. She pulled down my counter. She was supported by the Babaloja,” she narrated.
Oyenekan said she had appealed to the Babaloja and also reported the case to the Gbagura community, but nothing had been done yet.
“I am hungry. I have not sold anything since yesterday. I am hungry and so are my children. I can’t even send them to school. Please come to my aid,” she cried out.
When contacted, the Iyaloja denied slapping Oyenekan, saying “She was the one who slapped me”, but she did not deny carting away the trader’s wares, saying it was the punishment for assaulting a market head.
Mrs Owe expressed surprise that a market trader could have the effrontery to slap the Iyaloja.
Her words: “I don’t know where a market member would slap the Iyaloja. Everything happened yesterday. The woman didn’t greet me before now. I was supervising a culvert project at the market when she suddenly pushed me. She pushed me again when I went to meet a friend in the market. Everybody was surprised.
“Instead of dragging issues with her, I, as the Iyaloja, went to call the task force to seal off her stall with tape. When they were about to run the tape around her stall, she started cursing the task force, so they stood away. When the task force could not do it, I took the tape, thinking she would fear me a bit. But she pushed me again.
“As I was struggling with her, she slapped me. I said should I turn the second ear to you. She said she would slap me again if I turned the second ear to her. I turned the second side to her and everybody rose, blaming her for what she did. So, we ran the tape to seal off her stand.
“I have informed the Iyaloja of Egba and she called the Babaloja. The right punishment for whoever slaps the Iyaloja was applied. Moreover, it has never happened before, and we have rules and regulations in our market.”
Asked about Oyenekan’s goods, the Iyaloja retorted, “If she wants to sue us, she should go to court. The market’s lawyer would respond.”
Mrs Owe was also asked to state what should be done to release the seized goods, she said the woman ought to have organised people to apologise on her behalf.
The Iyaloja emphasised that it was Oyenekan who slapped her and she did not retaliate, saying “Let the tears that came out of my eyes when she slapped me judge her if she lied. If she asked you to publicise it, please do; we are ready.
“If she kills a cow for the entire market traders, they would eat; but if the entire market traders kill just one cow for her, she would not be able to eat it. Nothing would happen to her and me too.”
