Leadership Tussle: Protest in Edo market as women, thugs clash

Many traders were injured at the Ediaken Market, popularly called Uselu Market, on the Benin-Lagos Road axis as political thugs engaged in sporadic shooting on Tuesday in an attempt to overthrow the leadership of the market union, leaving many scampering for safety.

The incident, which occurred Tuesday evening, entered its second day as women trooped out on Wednesday in large numbers and barricaded the Uselu-Lagos Road axis near the market to register their displeasure over the sporadic shooting by the thugs.

It was gathered that the thugs stormed the market on Tuesday and assaulted the market women who were trading. The incident led to over 30 women and traders being hospitalised.

After the showdown between the thugs and the women, some of the traders who came to their shops on Wednesday embarked on a peaceful protest over the assault on their colleagues on Tuesday.

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

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A trader, who pleaded anonymity, said they were happy with the leadership of the market union and wanted the leadership to remain until the end of its tenure but were surprised when a dissident group allegedly loyal to the government in power attempted an overthrow and was resisted.

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

“Over 30 women were 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.”

Efforts to get the CPS to Governor Monday Okpebholo to comment on the issue were unsuccessful at the time of filing this report.