By Egufe Yafugborhi
WARRI – TRADERS, predominantly women, invaded Udu council secretariat in Delta state Tuesday, sacking all personnel including security guards in protest over new daily market levies imposed by the Local Government.

The traders in thousands, from all markets across Udu local government area, took over the Udu-Jeremi-Ughelli Expressway at dawn, shutting the busy road to traffic as the procession heads for the Udu council secretariat, Otor-Udu.

At Otor-Udu, the defiant protesters took over the council secretariat, sacking all personnel who had resumed duty before starting a bonfire at the council entrance where they vowed to stay-put until the said new daily traders’ levy is reversed by the council chairman, Chief Solomon Kpoma.

Emmanuel Kpomanuvie, Chairman, Ekete Market Association, told Vanguard that, “The chairman has been imposing all forms of levies since assuming office. Recently, he imposed N200 per cow slaughtered at the market abattoirs. Not long after, he raised it to N1000 per cow.

“We have been agitating for a stop to that oppressive levy because the council does no development in the markets. Now we are faced with daily levies. We reject this totally. Traders pay yearly levies to the council. It should stay that way. Times are had for everybody. This is totally unfair.

When contacted, Chief Kpoma said he will speak to the press in a moment.