A trader at the Ariaria International Market, Aba, Abia state (name withheld) is now lying critically ill at an undisclosed hospital in the city nursing injuries he sustained at the hands of a task force member of the market over a N10 gate fee.
247ureports.com gathered that the victim got the beating of his life when he failed to convince a member of the market taskforce that he has paid the N10 fee gate fee usually collected from traders who closed shop late.
According to an eyewitness who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the trader closed shop late. On getting to the gate, he told the taskforce member that he has paid the N10 gate fee and has misplaced it but the taskforce member refused to listen. After exchanging words with the trader, the taskforce member started raining blows on him leading to his collapse while the receipt for the N10 gate fee later fell off his shirt.”
The eyewitness said but for the timely intervention of men of the Abia State Vigilante Services, traders would have lynched the taskforce member. The traders were said to be angered that the taskforce member refused to listen to them and continued beating the innocent trader.
The situation attracted other traders who contacted members of the Abia State Vigilante Services leading to the arrest of the taskforce member and was later handed over to the Ariaria Police Division where he is currently being detained.
Police sources at the Ariaria Division hinted that the victim has been receiving medical attention at an undisclosed hospital while investigation into the matter is still ongoing.
Efforts to contact the Chairman, Ariaria International Market, Chief Lucky Akabueze failed as he could not take repeated calls to his mobile number.
