Uselu Market Shooting: Traders Accuse Govt Supporters

Many traders were injured at Edaiken Market, popular called Uselu Market on the Benin-Lagos road as political thugs embarked in sporadic shooting on Wednesday as they tried to forcibly remove the leadership of the market union leaving many scampering to safety.
The incident which occurred Tuesday evening entered its second day as the Women trooped out in their numbers and barricaded the Uselu-Lagos road axis near the market to register their displeasure over the previous day’s sporadic shooting by the thugs.
National Point gathered that the thugs stormed the market and assaulted the market women who were trading at the market. The incident led to over 30 women being hospitalized.
After the showdown between the thugs and the women, some of the traders returned to their shops on Wednesday and carried out a peaceful protest over the assault on their colleagues.
The protest, which lasted several hours crippled human and vehicular movement on the busy Ugbowo- Uselu-Lagos road, resulting in a gridlock.
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 their tenure, but were surprised when a dissident group allegedly loyal to the government in power came and wanted to overthrow the leadership.
“Our women came out to reject the new leadership, and they brought thugs who started shooting, and in the process, many of our women traders sustained injured and have been hospitalized.
“Over 30 women were injured, and that’s why we are protesting today 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.”