Over 40 thousand traders said to been displaced by Edo state government in an attempt to clear and clean the environment of illegal structures within the Benin metropolis, have taken to the streets in the state in a peaceful protest.

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Some of the affected traders from across Oba market, Ekiosa market, and New Benin market went on rampage, protesting and demanding an alternative place to trade that would accommodate them.

Chairman of traders’ Welfare Union, Lucky Orukpe, applauding the clean- up exercise called on the governor Godwin Obaseki to build an International market that would solve the problem and not listen to political traders.

One of the traders, who lamented their ordeal said where they are now trade at Constain-Isonoro road would not accommodate all the traders but appeal to the state government to covert Uteh land abandoned by government since 1963 to an international market for all.

Galaxy television gathered that traders were once at the Constain–Isonoro road but were driven away in 2014 after spending so much, they however called on the governor to beware of traders who are politicians who will do everything possible to scuttle the good intention of the traders.

 

Reports by Gabriel Ordia