A woman named Blessing Eze (Mrs), a mother of two, was killed in Ogun State. The sad incident happened on June 6, 2025, during the Eid al-Mubarak festival. A group of touts in the market came to the market demanding that traders pay ₦1,500 in taxes for their Eid al-Mubarak festival. When they reached Blessing Eze, she told them she didn’t have the money at that moment because she hadn’t sold anything yet. She asked them to come back later.

Instead of waiting, the touts started destroying her goods. Blessing tried to stop them and asked one of them to organise her goods properly and come back, not because she refused to pay, but because she had no money at the time, which she showed they her purse. Tragically, one of the men stabbed her in the chest, and she later died from the injury.

In response to this tragedy, the Igbo Market Union at Ifo Market decided to shut down their shops in mourning and solidarity. They protested against the ongoing harassment and intimidation from these touts. They announced a four-day mourning period during which traders will not display or sell their goods. They want the authorities, especially the government, to step in and help stop these attacks that have become a recurring thing.

One market member shared that last year, a similar situation occurred when Waheed, the son of the market leader Baba Loja, stabbed his wife. When he reported it to the police, they told him to drop the case because Waheed is well-connected and dangerous, and that he would not achieve anything.

We call on the Ogun State government to take action and bring the guilty parties to justice. Paying these taxes should be voluntary, not forced. Also, it’s important to remember that Yoruba women still travel to Onitsha to buy goods.

Finally, Report, directly from Ifo, Ogun State, by an Igbo trader.

TO all Igbo people everywhere: Let’s stand together in unity. We are stronger when we support and protect each other. It’s time to unite, look out for one another, and work together to create a safer, better community for all of us. We must be our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers.