The President Ogunpa Central international market traders association, Prince Gbenga Atitebi has imposed a ban on Pepper Sellers Association at the market pending the outcome of a committee report.
The ban followed the commotion that ensued at Ogunpa market on monday after an altercation between some members of the pepper sellers association and a woman selling pepper in the market for allegation of selling below price.
The alleged trader, Mrs Adeola Arisekola, was assaulted by members of the pepper sellers association, who accused her of selling pepper at a lower price compared to what they sold.
“The traders accused me of stealing the pepper. They said if I had not stolen it, I would not be able to sell a measurement (ile kan) for 500 naira and 200 naira.”
“As I was about to move my goods. They poured it away and even tore the shirt of the shop owner who allowed me to sell in front of his shop”
Mrs Adeola said she had just begun selling pepper on Saturday when a bag of pepper was sold for 90,000 which she divided and shared with others.
Reacting to the uproar The president of the market, Prince Gbenga said the actions of the members of the pepper sellers association would not be tolerated in the market
“She came to the market to sell her goods, some people approached her that they belong to an association and she must have stolen her goods to sell at lower prices.”
“What they did to this woman is not appropriate because it is whatever she buys from the marker she will sell.”
He said the ban will remain in place until further notice. “We have cautioned them and imposed a law that until further notice, all pepper sellers are banned from hawking or displaying their goods in the market. We have also told them that we don’t want any association of pepper sellers because they are cheating us.”
He added that a price control committee will be set up to regulate and enforce the prices of food items in the market.
“Other sellers such as yam sellers, beans sellers and meat sellers have been taking it for granted. They always hike their prices during closing hours, especially during weekends.”
“As a matter of fact, we want to situate a price control committee in the market to see to this affairs.”
A Member of the pepper sellers association, Mujidat Akinpelu who spoke to Ibadancity Announcer on behalf of the association said they had bought a bag of pepper for 130,000 Naira today, hence the reason why members confronted the trader.
“We bought pepper 130 thousand at Bodija, we got to her and discovered she portioned it in large quantity. We met with her and explained that her portioning is too much so she’ll have to leave the market.”
“We’re just here to let her know she does not belong to our association. The only problem is that she does not belong to our association.”
Speaking on the incident, The Baale of Ogunpa Central international market traders association, Nurudeen Inaolaji, was grateful to god that the incident did not escalate into violence or loss of lives and property
“I am grateful that this incident did not claim any one’s life and also grateful for how everything got sorted with ease.”
He promised that the matter will be resolved with measures put in place to prevent a recurrence of such events.
“The incident is quite sudden. we did not know these people actually engage in such things without caution. But now, we will sit on it and make sure things run smoothly from now on.”
Reports by John Adio for IbadanCity ANNOUNCER
