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| The newspaper vendor’s upturned table yesterday. |
A vendor of newspaper has cried out over the continuous harassment by officials of Lagos State Task Force and members of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). The vendor, who operates around the Iyana-Isolo underbridge, said he had persistently been harassed and his papers destroyed.
It was learnt that the task force officials raided the newsstand of the vendor yesterday and destroyed some of their newspapers, which were displayed for sale, apparently as part of security arrangements for the president’s visit in Lagos.
One of the vendors at Iyana Isolo, Mr. Ikediri Nwakaudu, said he was shocked that the government would unleash security agents on him, after being at that location for close to 45 years.
He said: “Last week, SARS officials came to where I sell newspapers, they asked me to move from the spot to another place, which I did. They came again yesterday and ordered me to move totally away from the environment without telling me why.
“I went to their office to see the boss and reported the issue, though he told me to always report to him if his men come back to harass me. When I rushed to his office to report the officers he left me in his office and went away without a word.
“After waiting for so long in his office without any headway, I returned to my stall where I met my newspapers scattered all over while other traders were allegedly left untouched.” When asked if he was asked to pay a fee, the vendor said the officers didn’t ask him for money, which leaves one to wonder what their motive was.
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It was learnt that the task force officials raided the newsstand of the vendor yesterday and destroyed some of their newspapers, which were displayed for sale, apparently as part of security arrangements for the president’s visit in Lagos.
One of the vendors at Iyana Isolo, Mr. Ikediri Nwakaudu, said he was shocked that the government would unleash security agents on him, after being at that location for close to 45 years.
He said: “Last week, SARS officials came to where I sell newspapers, they asked me to move from the spot to another place, which I did. They came again yesterday and ordered me to move totally away from the environment without telling me why.
“I went to their office to see the boss and reported the issue, though he told me to always report to him if his men come back to harass me. When I rushed to his office to report the officers he left me in his office and went away without a word.
“After waiting for so long in his office without any headway, I returned to my stall where I met my newspapers scattered all over while other traders were allegedly left untouched.” When asked if he was asked to pay a fee, the vendor said the officers didn’t ask him for money, which leaves one to wonder what their motive was.
In this article: