Calabar sanitation workers assault female food vendor

The victim, Mrs. Grace Francis

There was confusion at the Oando filling station by the U.J Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Tuesday as sanitation workers from the Calabar Urban Development Authority assaulted a food vendor, Mrs. Grace Francis.

The CUDA workers also splashed garbage on her fruits and food before carting away the cooler where they were stored.

The workers were alleged to be working on the instruction of the Executive Secretary of CUDA, Mr. Joe-Mary Ekeng-Ita, who asked them to eject those selling around the filling station from the place.

Francis, who spoke with Southern City News in Calabar after her ordeal in the hands of the sanitation workers, said CUDA had given her a temporary approval dated October 22, 2015, permitting her sell at the Big Qua shopping Plaza opposite the stadium (by Oando).

Some of the items smeared with faeces by the Calabar sanitation workers

The victim, who is from Obudu Local Government Area of the state, made presented a copy of the approval with reference number CUDA/FHS/19/25/14.

She said she started selling cooked food and fruits at the shopping plaza in October, but that unfortunately CUDA officials started extorting her in December.

“CUDA workers have been coming here asking for money every time. Look at what they have done to me by pouring faeces on the food I sell to the public.

“Because of their beating, I have sustained injuries on my legs but their Director’s wife is selling near me and they have never touched her or carried her goods,” she said, sobbing.