According to a Friday interaction with the embattled petty trader at Shopping Center Complex (open space), Watt Market, Calabar there is a claim that he is suffering constant headaches and sleeplessness NEGROIDHAVEN can report.
The embattled sickly trader, Chinedu Igwe, who has been abandoned by the local authority at Calabar South LGA has disclosed that, since the incident of his being harassed and beaten to coma by thugs and councillors commissioned by the council authority, he has been suffering recurrent headaches and sleeplessness.
Meanwhile, trader Igwe disclosed that his open space at Shopping Center Complex, Watt Market, Calabar has been leased to two persons for the reported sum of one hundred and fifty thousand Naira (N150,000.00) only in addition to the daily toll of seven hundred and fifty Naira (N750,000.00) only –an extortion which sparked a controversy between the petty traders and the council authority in the first place.
The alleged one hundred and fifty thousand Naira annual rent lease is an upgrade from fifteen thousand naira (N15,000.00) only. Allegedly, this N150,000.00 only is payable only by Efik traders, a trader from the south eastern extraction of the country cannot get leased open spaces directly from the council rather, they must pass through an Efik native of the state (Cross River).
According to Igwe, ‘Since then I have been suffering from steady headaches, I told my colleagues yesterday that I want to take some time out to treat myself.
‘You know, I went to the market the other day to see if I can sell at my space. I was still arrested again. So, I queried them asking : are you arresting me despite the doctor’s report you are aware of? How do you want me to take the treatment without food, nothing. I was even detained for 7 hours until the Divisional Police Officer, DPO asked them to release me. How will I live, survive with my family? You took away my means of livelihood, money, should I start begging?’, Igwe said.
‘My colleagues have been warned to steer clear of me, not to interact with me, not to relate with me. Those who are willing to pay the N150,000 where further tasked to swear an affidavit in court saying that they will withdraw their membership of petty traders association at Shopping Center Complex, Watt Market, that they will not appear in court to testify in respect of the ongoing issues between petty traders and Calabar South authority.’
Recall that NEGROIDHAVEN on 2nd of January this year reported that, Igwe the Vice Chairman, VC of Petty Traders Association at Shopping Center Complex at Watt Market, was hospitalised after being beaten to coma. Calabar South LG authority is alleged to have ordered hoodlums to attack, harass, intimidate and beat up petty traders at and out of the complex.
Recall that the Calabar South Council Authority had last year issued a circular disclosing that it will vacate the traders from the facility come 31st December 2022 even when some rent like that of Igwe would expire in the month of March.
According to the traders, the rent of some of the petty traders is yet to expire when thugs suspected to be acting at the instance of the local council authority stormed the complex facility and evacuated these traders this Monday morning.
EDITORIAL
This story amongst others are reviewed on Sparkling 92.3FM http://mixlr.com/sparkling923fm–2 and FAD 93.1FM. Again, opinions expressed on NegroidHaven are exclusively the author’s not NH’s.
