Following the Governor Kayode Fayemi government’s directive to lockdown the Ekiti State for 14 days (to end on Monday) in order to battle the spread of Covid-19, otherwise known Coronavirus pandemic, some aides to the governor allegedly led on the order by Mr Olufemi Olanrewaju have thrown some traders in Ado Ekiti, the state capital into pain and agony following the wanton destruction of their goods and kiosks.
Olanrewaju, otherwise known as Ijakoko, who is the Chairman of Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency, invaded the popular Oja Oba Market in Ado Ekiti, on Sunday, April 12, to enforce the stay at home order of the governor.
Goods paraded by the traders, who were in the market to make Easter sales, were destroyed while others were set ablaze and with their kiosks.
Attempt by the traders to explain that they came to the market to make some sales in order to feed their families; more so that they were among those exempted by the government fell on deaf ears.
The traders wept profusely as they watched their goods and kiosks (shops) being set ablaze the Governor Fayemi’s aides.
Some of them who made attempts to salvage their property were brutalized by the task force members.
Speaking with our correspondent some of the traders including, George Daniel and Kemi Ojo described the action as uncalled for, “saying that it was wickedness on the part of government taskforce to set property of traders in the market ablaze”.
Mr Daniel and Mrs Ojo explained that “some of these goods were also looted away by the officers”.
The traders explained that they came to the market to make some sales in order to feed their families, more also that they were among those exempted by government during the stay at home.
They called on Governor Kayode Fayemi to call the head of the taskforce to order and check his excesses.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Ekiti State Traffic Management Agency Mr Olufemi Olanrewaju said that “the traders have been warned several times to vacate the market to maintain social distancing in order to check the spread of COVID-19”.
Mr Olanrewaju denied the allegation that there goods were burnt, “saying members of the joint taskforce in the state only set ablaze kiosks used for displaying their goods on the road”.
