A heated altercation between traders over a space in one of the markets in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti state capital, yesterday, has led to the death of a 56-year-old woman, Mrs Bosede Ajayi.
The incident occurred at the popular Bisi Market in Ado-Ekiti, where the deceased engaged another trader, Mrs Raheem Aminat, in a war of words over who owned a particular space in the market.
An eyewitness told newsmen that the two women had engaged in a war of words for about 30 minutes over where to display their wares which was said to have been settled by other traders.
The Police Public Relations Officer of the Ekiti state Command, Mr Victor Babayemi, who confirmed the incident, said it was a case of homicide, but added that the altercation, according to an eyewitness, Mr Marcus Adedayo, did not degenerate into exchange of fisticuffs.
Babayemi said the 40-year-old Aminat had been arrested and detained at the Okesa Police Station in Ado Ekiti.
He said preliminary investigations had confirmed that the matter was settled between the duo and Mrs Ajayi had started displaying her wares before he slumped and died.
He said the woman was immediately rushed to the Comprehensive Health Centre in Okeyinmi area of Ado Ekiti, where efforts to save his life had failed.
The police spokesman added that medical experts had confirmed that the victim had died which, he said, prompted his men to immediately arrest the suspect.
He said: “I can confirm to you that the suspect is in our custody at Okesa Police Station. The woman struggled with another person on where they should display their wares and shortly, the she fell and fainted.
“The victim’s body had been deposited at the morgue in Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital in Ado Ekiti while investigations are ongoing on what led to her death.”