The Nkerefi people of Nkanu-East local government area, in Enugu State staged a protest yesterday, September 22 over imposition of levies and taxes against traders.
The protesters, mainly youths took to the streets within and around the Eke market, which holds once every four days.
According to Jungle-Journalist.Com sources, the youths kicked against imposed taxing on market women by an aide of the Enugu State Government, who doubles as the President general of one of the communities in Nkerefi.
The protesters said the newly imposed levy mandates all the women selling in the market to pay a certain amount for bringing their wares to the market. Anyone who also moves goods from the market is forced to pay a levy.
“How can you impose a tax on these old women who go and get small vegatables or fruits from their farms to sell and make small money for their upkeep?
“These levies are dubious, and we will continue to run our market the way it has always been. They cannot bring those their evil laws to our community. What have they done for us to begin to demand for takes and levies? We won’t let that happen”, one of the protesters said.
They carried placards, chanted and set up bonfires to show their anger.
Ohuani-Amofu community is the host of Eke Nkerefi market where each Mkpukpu (village) has its own designated ozo (row of shops)in the market.
Our source said that in the history of Nkerefi, “no one has levied anyone buying or selling in the market, but today the PG has imposed a levy on the market women which made our youths to protest.