Igbo traders at Ifo Market in Ogun State have shut down their businesses in protest following the brutal stabbing to death of Mrs. Blessing Eze, a mother of two. The incident occurred on June 6, 2025, during the Eid Mubarak festival when touts were forcibly collecting a ₦1,500 “festival tax” from traders.
Mrs. Eze reportedly told the touts she did not have the money at the time and asked them to return later. The touts began destroying her goods, prompting her to intervene and ask them to arrange her goods properly. During the altercation, one of the touts stabbed her in the chest, leading to her death.
The Igbo Market Union declared a four-day mourning period, during which traders will not display goods but will protest until the Ogun State Government intervenes. The traders have long complained of harassment, intimidation, and extortion by the touts, with some recalling previous violent incidents involving market authorities’ relatives.
The union is demanding justice and stronger security measures to protect traders from such abuses. They emphasized that festival contributions should be voluntary, not enforced by violence. The shutdown has caused significant disruption in the market, reflecting widespread outrage and grief among the trading community.
This tragic event highlights ongoing issues of market extortion and insecurity that require urgent government action to prevent further loss of lives and restore peace in Ifo Market.
