South-East traders in Ifo, Ogun State, have shut down their businesses in protest over the stabbing to death of an Igbo woman, Blessing Eze, by touts allegedly collecting festival taxes.
SaharaReporters gathered that the incident sparked widespread outrage and condemnation, with many calling for justice and accountability.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident occurred on Friday, June 6, 2025, during the Eid Mubarak festival, when traders were asked to pay ₦1500 each.
According to some traders who spoke to SaharaReporters on Saturday evening, Eze reportedly refused to pay, citing lack of funds, and was subsequently stabbed in the chest by one of the touts.
Chiamaka Eze, a trader in the market who spoke to SaharaReporters on telephone on Saturday narrated: “The incident happened on Friday being yesterday when some touts began taxing traders over the Eid Mubarak festival of Muslim faithfuls that took place yesterday. Each trader was asked to pay ₦1500.
“On getting to late Mrs Eze, she told them she didn’t have the money as at the time they came, and pleaded that they should come back. As touts that they are, they started destroying her goods, during which she dragged one of them and asked him to arrange her goods properly and come back.
“She said she would pay but she didn’t have the money as of that time because she had not sold anything. That’s how one of them stabbed her on the chest which later led to her death.”
The traders claimed that Eze was dragged into an argument with the touts after she told them she didn’t have the money to pay at the time.
“We are mourning the loss of one of our own, and we demand justice,” said an Igbo Market Union member, Simon Uchenna. “Before this woman’s death, we had been experiencing assault and intimidation from those group of touts.”
The union member added that the traders had been subjected to harassment and extortion by the touts, who often demand money from them without any justification.
He said that the market union has declared a 4-day mourning period, during which Igbo traders will not display goods and will instead focus on protesting.
They are calling on the Ogun State Government to intervene and bring the perpetrators to justice.
“We implore the Ogun State Government to intervene and make sure the perpetrators are brought to book,” the union member added.
One market member recounted a similar incident from last year, where his wife was stabbed by the son of the Baba Loja (market head), Waheed. Despite reporting the incident to the police, he was advised to drop the case due to the suspect’s alleged connections.
“Nigeria will always be what it is, where killers will tell you to your face that they will kill you and nothing will happen,” the trader lamented.
The traders are demanding that the government takes concrete steps to address the issue of extortion and harassment by touts in the market.
They are also calling for increased security measures to protect traders and prevent such incidents in the future.
“Festival money shouldn’t be by force, it should have been something of free will,” a trader, Okoye Chizoba said.
“True to their words, they will kill you and nothing will happen. Human lives mean nothing to everyone, even those (government) whose duty is to protect you from killers.”
The shutdown of businesses has caused significant disruptions to the market, with many traders and customers alike expressing shock and sadness over the incident.
The market union has vowed to continue the protest until justice is served and the perpetrators are brought to book.
As the protest continues, many are left wondering when such incidents will be taken seriously by the authorities and when those responsible will be held accountable. “May her soul rest in peace,” the traders said, paying their respects to the late Blessing Eze.
