* Alleged Killing Of 27 Members Of Their Association
By Ankeli Emmanuel (Sokoto)
The Association of Onion Producers, Processors, and Marketers of Nigeria (OPMAN), has decried that no fewer than 27 of their members has so far been killed, with onions and properties worth over four billion and five hundred million nairas (N4.5bn) so far destroyed in the Southern States of Nigeria in recent times.
OPMAN while expressing worries that no compensation whatsoever has been paid to the families of their bereaved members nor those whose properties were destroyed, affirmed that they have resolved to stop supplying onions to the entire Southern part of Nigeria until the security situation improves and their conditions met.
Addressing newsmen in Sokoto on the State of affairs after an emergency meeting attended by members from all onion producing States, OPMAN National Secretary, Alhaji Aliyu Isa Maitasamu, appealed to the Federal Government and the Nigerian Governors Forum to urgently set up a committee that will genuinely look into the numerous attacks suffered by their members in the Southern part of Nigeria with a view to finding an urgent solution.
While warning that failure to address their demands, OPMAN will be left with no option than to stop the supply of onions to all southern states of the federation, from Monday, June 7, 2021.
Aliyu Maitasamu recalled with nostalgia, how some victims of EndSars were compensated and their members left out.
"Reference to the national executive meeting held today, we are here to report to the members of the public that following the incident that happened in Aba, Abia State, Shasa in Oyo State and Mbaise local government area of Imo State respectively which resulted in the losses in Aba, three members, destruction of about 30 trailers and 9 utility cars, 50 stores and 10,000 bags of Onions including other valuables were recorded by our Association.
"During the last EndSars protests, other people were compensated, leaving out our members. And In Shaha, we lost 27 lives, 5 trailers, 5,600 bags of Onions, 12 utility cars, and other valuables.
"Also in February this year, in Imo State, two trucks of Onions were lost worth about 13,000,000 nairas. The above problems resulted in our earlier action to suspend the supply of foodstuffs to the Southern States in February through our parent union.
"After full deliberation by the executive members of this association and the failure of government to respond to our cry, we have thereby reached these decisions:
"We are calling on the state and federal government to restore law and order in the states. We also call on the good people of the Southern part of Nigeria to live with the Hausa community in peace, as we are only there for our lawful businesses.
"We also call on State governments to collaborate with the federal government to set up a committee that will investigate the incidences that led to the loss of lives and properties of our members in these named States", OPMAN national Secretary, Aliyu stated. NNL