By Emmanuel Udom
There are strong indications that the Ifo central market in Ogun state has been placed on red alert, following the planned wake-keep for a slain female trader scheduled to hold Thursday, this week.
It could be recalled that during the Sallah day celebrations this year, one Mrs Blessing Ogbona, a trader at the market, who deals with clothes, P OS and other petty businesses, was allegedly stabbed to death by a suspect, said to be mentally challenged. One version of the trending story has it that the suspect approached the trader and demanded money for the celebrations of the Muslim festivities.
It was gathered that the lady begged the suspect, simply known as Usher, that she had just come to the market and that the suspect should come back for the money. However, another version has it that the suspect was allegedly asking the tomatoes and pepper traders selling their items near the open shop of the woman, located along Lagos-Abeokuta expressway, opposite Vantage pharmacy, when Mrs Ogbona intervened and allegedly spoke rudely with the suspect, who became annoyed and left the place only to return to stab the trader.
However, our correspondent gathered that operatives of the state security service, SSS, Amotekun, police and so_safe, and the ethnic militia outfit, Oodua Peoples Congress, have been placed on red alert to avert the possibility of the outbreak of tribal violence during the wake keep.
The burial ceremony arrangement reveals that the wake-keep for the departed trader, an indigene of Ebonyi state, is planned to hold on Thursday, August 7, 2025, at the Roman Catholic Church Primary School premises, located near Ifo market, at 10 am. The funeral ceremony could take place on Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Mr Executive Ngene’s Family House compound, Honac Ohaozano, Ngbon Eru Okposi in Ebonyi state.
