The Divisional Police Officer of Ifo Police Division in Ogun State, SP Kamorudeen Olabisi, has disclosed that five suspects in connection with the death of a female trader, Mrs Blessing Eze, at Ifo market, have been arrested.
Olabisi revealed this at a stakeholders meeting of government officials, market leaders, security operatives, and traditional rulers held at the Winnas Hotel at Ifo on Tuesday.
BEYOND AFRICA gathered that Eze was stabbed to death by a thug in the market following her refusal to give money to the hoodlums who forcefully demanded ‘festive money’ from her on Friday.
The incident threw the Ifo market into tension as Igbo traders shut their businesses to register their grievances, leading to a series of meetings and consultations with appropriate authorities.
In one of the meetings on Tuesday, the police boss said all the culprits would be brought to book, adding that harassment and intimidation of market traders would no longer be tolerated.
“I’m assuring you that all those who took part in killing the woman will be arrested,” Olabisi said. “Already, five of them have been arrested and are on their way to Ilaro prison.”
He, then, urged the traders to report all forms of criminality in the market to the police for urgent action to be taken.
“You need to tell the police. We can’t address what we don’t know, so when you see something, let us know,” he said.
Also speaking at the meeting, the Chairman of the Ifo Local Government Area, Idris Kusimo, said all unlawful collection of fares in the market should be stopped.
“Anyone caught or reported for engaging in forceful collection of money from market people will face the full extent of the law,” Kusimo stated.
In his address, the Baba L’oja of the Ifo Igbo market traders, Theophilus Ikpeghibumo, appealed to the government and security agencies to find a lasting solution to the extortion of money and harassment that his kinsmen experience while going about their business.
“We’re not against the collection of revenues. What we oppose is the extortion of money and the unlawful, forceful collection of money from our people. It is lawlessness that has to stop,” Ikpeghibumo added.
The meeting was also attended by the representatives of the Ogun State Government, the Department of State Services, traditional rulers, and market unions.
