Mustapha Suleiman
8 November 2009
Abuja — Three traders and a sales girl in Garki Model Market are currently cooling their heels in police custody for allegedly assaulting officials of Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML).
The traders Chigozie Eze, Joy Zakaria, Ebere Okafor and Ekene Maureen were accused of beating up two AMML officials in the market in the course of carrying out their official duties. They are charged with joint act criminal force and assault.
Trouble started when a woman, Ebere Okafor who had contravened environmental rules in the market had her shop sealed up ; but the woman who was described by her neighbours as a social deviant and 'very stubborn', forced herself into the sealed shop in defiant of an AEPB seal. But unknown to the AEPB and AMML officials in the market, the woman in anticipation of an action, arranged for hoodlums led by one Chigozie Eze to pounce on any person who would want to get close to her shop.
An eyewitness told our reporter that on sighting the AMML, AEPB officials, she quickly ran out and mobilized these tugs in their numbers who stormed the place and immediately pounced on the AMML officials.
Speaking further, the source said the woman and a few others claim that, one Edozie Ugwu - a self styled Garki Model Market Association(GAMMA) leader had told them not to pay for any services in the market- whether environmental or any other charges.
Another trader, Isyaku Mohammed said he witnessed the whole saga noting that it serves the women right." I am just wondering if such women are married- I can't imagine my wife bringing such shame to me-I understand they have been remanded in the police custody and when you think of it- you have a shop and you allow yourself to be controlled and misled by a few people who don't even have any known address in the market-it is a shame- I think the husband of those women involved have a lot of job to do
As for the man-Chigozie Eze- we all know him-of all the troubles we have witnessed in this market, he is always there-he can afford to make trouble because he has no investment in the market- I think government should help us rid our market of such elements," he pleaded.
When contacted, the manager of the market referred our reporter to the AMML PRO, Innocent Amaechina who could not be reached at the time of filling this report.
However, the DPO Garki Police station, CSP Tony Olofu confirmed this in a telephone chat noting that the matter has been charged to court.
Be the first to Write a Comment!
Copyright © 2009 Daily Trust. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.
AllAfrica aggregates and indexes content from over 125 African news organizations, plus more than 200 other sources, who are responsible for their own reporting and views. Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica.
