By Bose Adelaja

For many years, Binukonu Market in Ogudu Road, Ojota of Kosofe Local Government of Lagos State was notable for cheap farm produce like

Front view of the ultra modern market.

pepper, vegetables, beef and all other cooking items. Patronised by low-income earners, trading usually took place in seedy, make-shift stalls.

Because of its shanty nature, the market also played host to miscreants or street urchins who sometimes made life unbearable for residents of the area who became regular victims to various forms of fraudulent practices.

Succour, however, was to come the way of residents about four years ago when the place was completely transformed into an ultra modern market. That was when it acquired the distinct feature of having many multiple storey buildings and also became a beehive of activities.

The new Binukonu Ultra Modern Market not only became a popular destination of the big wigs in the society, but it began to compete favourably with other modern markets in the State with about 400 traders jostling for space on daily basis.

But it will appear that the happy times at the market may be short-lived. Vanguard Metro can authoritatively reveal that business activities there are being threatened as a result of alleged fraudulent practices by the market leaders.

This is said to have affected human traffic into the market which has now reduced considerably unlike what obtained in the recent past. It has also brought about complaints and murmurings among the traders who are now gripped with fear over their lives and business in the market.

Some of the traders who spoke with Vanguard Metro said their plight encompasses extortion, in human treatment and rituals being perpetrated by their leaders, adding that this had seriously affected business activities in the market.

Apart from the amount payable for the rentage of these shops, traders pay about N25,000 and above to the leaders’ coffers without issuance of any receipt. About three months ago, each of the traders was asked to pay the sum of N10,000 to purchase a transformer with another charge of N2,200 to connect the transformer.

Apart from the issue of electricity, part of the numerous levies on traders include a daily levy of N50 on car owners and N20 on the use of the public conveniences as well as monthly charges of N1,000 for security, N250 for water and N500 for PSB, among others. Weekly charges include N50 for maintenance, apart from occasional levies of ‘’Owo Bournvita’‘ (Bournvita levy) and ‘’I go sell well-well’‘ which usually goes for N1,000 and above. While the former is used for the upkeep of the market leaders, the latter is used to perform rituals on behalf of the traders.

During the yuletide period, the traders are expected to prepare gifts for the market leaders which must be deemed satisfactory in terms of quality and quantity.

Apart from extortion, Vanguard Metro gathered that these leaders also take advantage of meeting days in the market to rain curses on the innocent traders and threaten them with juju should any of them challenge their authority.

One of the traders, Mama Temi, was said to have been victimised by the leaders for attempting to call them to order. “She was victimised physically and spiritually for reporting the leaders to the market board. They did a lot of rituals in her name such that she vacated the market under duress without completing the rentage,” said Madam Keshinro Oluwakemi

“Over 300 shops paid N12,200 for electricity in addition to incurring other expenses. The attitude of our market leaders has sent many people packing. Most customers are bitter about the gate fee and many of them have stopped patronising us. They lock up our shops at will without prior notice and tell us that anybody who writes a petition against them will die within seven days or suffer terminal disease. Mama Temi’s case was a pointer to this as she has been battling with ill-health since she reported the leaders,” Mama Feyisayo lamented.

When Vanguard Metro visited the area recently, the market was a shadow of itself as the usual beehive of activities has stopped. Also, some of the shops were under lock and key as many of their owners have vacated the premises.

‘’Our leaders threaten us with juju all the time and they embark on rituals; they tell us the rituals will bring customers but the reverse is the case. We usually pay money before using the public conveniences, while we pay separate bills for its upkeep. Why do we have to pay so much. Are we the only traders in Lagos State?” angrily queried Mrs Egbetunde Ololade and Mama Vic.

When Vanguard Metro contacted the deputy Iyaloja(market leader) at the New Binukonu Ultra Modern market, Mrs Folake Awosanya, she was initially silent on the issue. But when pressed further, she said: “The market was in darkness for years, but in 2010 we asked each shop to pay some money for electricity which was disbursed for buying 14 electricity poles at the rate of N40,000 each, while the remaining was used to entertain PHCN officials that brought the transformer. Kosofe Local government has abandoned us in terms of amenities and we decided to task ourselves”.