Man stabs trader to death over carpet price in Ondo

A man believed to be a soldier on Saturday stabbed a 27-year-old trader to death over the price of a carpet in Akure, the Ondo State capital.

The incident, which happened around Arakale area of Akure metropolis, led to the blockage of major roads in the area by some aggrieved traders and colleagues of the deceased.

An eyewitness, who identified himself as Chibuka, told newsmen that trouble started when the deceased tried to stop the man from beating and harassing a co-trader, who was a nursing mother, over the price of a carpet.

According to him, the interference led to an argument between the deceased and the “customer”.

“The ‘customer’ suddenly came down from the bike, brought out a dagger and stabbed the deceased in the stomach.

“The stabbed trader fell to the ground while the ‘customer’ took to his heels upon realising that his victim had lost consciousness,” he said.

SP Funmilayo Odunlami-Omisanya, Public Relations Officer(PPRO) of the Police Command in Ondo, confirmed the incident to newsmen and added that remains of the deceased had been taken to the morgue.

“Yes, the police can confirm the stabbing of a young man by a man believed to be a soldier; the command is in touch with the military authority so that the culprit(s) can be identified and arrested,” the PPRO said.