By Demola Akinyemi, Ilorin

A trader in the popular Baboko market (Oja-Tuntun) in Ilorin West Local Government Area of Kwara state, Alhaja Mariam Babatunde Arolahun, has debunked reports in some sections of the media claiming that she had a dispute with a co-trader, late Alhaja Medinat, over a space of Shop controversially allocated to the two of them in the market by the local government, which ultimately led to her death.

Debunking the reports, titled ” Baboko: Kwara market women threaten to protest naked over colleague mysterious death”, published on 30th January 2024, Arolahun said it became imperative for her to correct any misgiving among the market women and in the society at large following the said publications which she claimed had damaged her hard earned reputation and that of her family.

Alhaja Mariam, popularly known as Iya Sobo, a name she derived from the ingredients she trades in at the market, said following the damage caused to her by the reports, she had dragged the concerned persons to court to seek redress over the alleged defamatory report.

She said those who accused her of having issues with the deceased could not substantiate their claims when they were invited by the police for investigation on the matter.

Findings from the Monitoring Unit, at the state police command revealed that one Mr Femi Ajayi popularly known as “BabaTio” of blessed memory, Spokesperson of one of the two leadership factions in the market known as “Majekobaje” had filed a petition alleging that Alhaja Mariam Babatunde is a serial trouble maker in the market, urging the police command to caution her

Consequently, the Police were said to have invited signatories to the petition,n including “Baba Tio”, to substantiate their claims to which they couldn’t, as none of them later failed to honour the invitation of the police during interrogations on the petition.

It was reliably gathered that contrary to the report, Alhaja Mariam was at the police headquarters, Ilorin, on invitation over the matter in the market at the time she was said to have poured urine on Alhaja Medina,t with whom she reportedly had altercations over a space in the market.

It was also gathered that the son of the deceased allegedly made a statement at the police headquarters that her mother did not die as a result of any spiritual attack as insinuated, but as a result of low blood pressure as confirmed by the University of Ilorin Teaching hospital, Oke-Oyi, Ilorin where her mother died, thereby exonerating Alhaja Mariam Arolahun of any wrongdoing.

The son was also reported to have gone to a radio station in Ilorin to make the same clarification concerning his mother’s death.

The popular trader, therefore, urged the public to disregard rumour mongers, affirming that she had no hands whatsoever in the circumstances that led to the death of her co-trader in the market.

She expressed gratitude to all those who called her to express their concerns over the development, thanking them for believing in her.