Osaigbovo Iguobaro
There was absolute chaos—and a severe lack of chill—when a yet-to-be-identified businesswoman decided that securing discounted corn was worth an extreme cardiovascular workout last Thursday at Oka market, Upper Sokpomba, Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area.
The victim, deeply committed to beating both inflation and rival shoppers to a vehicle loaded with corn, got a little too carried away in the free-for-all at the market without rules or people to keep order compounded by lack of quick help or emergency medical care and response Unit.
According to medical analysis, she suffered a rapid drop in blood sugar—technically speaking, death from severe hypoglycemia-induced cardio-respiratory arrest, or as locals might call it, taking the “corn scramble” way too literally.
The distraught husband of the mother of three is probably wondering why marriage vows didn’t include a clause about listening to medical advice.
He had explicitly warned her to stay home after she complained of malaria symptoms the night before, proving once again that husbands are universally ignored until it is too late.
Dorothy, a roasted corn vendor and accidental front-row witness to the tragedy, told TheNewspad Correspondent that the victim had actually achieved ultimate victory—successfully clutching a bag of fresh corn—right before she slumped and suddenly died.
According to her, “The woman is more more than 40 years. She was pretty in her outfit. She came down steadily and people started shouting madam, wetin dey happen. Get up. Get up. Suddenly, she stopped breathing, but she couldn’t even respond”.
She said, “police came after her husband was contacted. The husband said she told her to stay with the children at home, but she said she needed to go to market. I didn’t know today will be end of the journey we started together”.
Dorothy revealed that the husband was immediately summoned via phone, after which he alerted police operatives from a nearby division.
They evacuated the woman, believed to be in her 40s, to a morgue.
Dorothy also lamented that instead of helpful bystanders administering first aid treatment, the crowd of sympathizers opted for the far more culturally relevant approach of recording footage and dropping creepy commentaries while the poor woman was gasping for breath.
In the meantime, the State Taskforce has successfully put a pause on the freelance entrepreneurial careers of two suspected illegal revenue collectors at the Uwelu Spare Parts Market in Egor Local Government Area.
This followed an influx of complaints from traders and customers tired of being shaken down.
The suspects were apprehended after business owners finally lost patience with individuals casually collecting unauthorized levies from people just trying to carry out legitimate business without paying a side-tax to random clipboard holders.
Addressing journalists after the operation, the station Officer of the Edo State Taskforce, Johnbull Rufus, noted that the team acted swiftly on reports from the market—proving that when it comes to stopping unauthorized ticketing, Johnbull means business.
He disclosed that the suspects were brazenly issuing tickets and demanding payments, completely ignoring the Edo State Government’s strict memo banning illegal revenue collection and unauthorized ticketing across the entire state.
”We received complaints from traders and customers at the Uwelu Market that some individuals were extorting people carrying out their legitimate businesses.
Based on those reports, the Edo State Taskforce immediately swung into action and arrested two suspects,” Rufus explained.
Rufus reiterated the government’s fierce commitment to protecting residents and businesses from extortion, warning any other rogue ticket-sellers still operating in the shadows to immediately pack up their receipt books or face the full, unamused weight of the law.
He stressed that the Governor Monday Okpebholo-led administration remains entirely dedicated to creating a conducive business environment by eliminating all forms of illegal taxation and general market harassment.
Similarly, the two arrested suspects, identified as Tony Amayo and Thompson Okun, offered the classic defense: they were just following orders.
The suspects claimed they were working under the direct instruction of their employer, Kingsley Ikhimwin, who apparently assured them the hustle was fully endorsed and stamped by the local government council.
The suspects are now expected to face further investigation as the taskforce continues its ongoing cleanup operation across the State.
