Traders at the popular Ogbe-Ijoh Market in Delta State were thrown into shock and admiration yesterday after a Hausa trader reportedly returned in full the daily earnings a deaf trader had been keeping with him for safekeeping.
According to eyewitnesses at the market, the deceased, a hearing and speech-impaired man who traded in the market, had for a long time been keeping his daily proceeds with the Hausa man whom he trusted.
After news of the death of the deaf trader spread in the market yesterday, the Hausa man was said to have immediately brought out all the money in his custody and handed it over to the family/representatives of the deceased.
The action, according to traders, left many in the market emotional and full of praise for the trader’s sincerity and honesty.
Market sources described the incident as a rare demonstration of trust and integrity in business relationships, noting that such acts help to strengthen peaceful coexistence among different ethnic groups doing business in the market.
As of press time, the exact amount returned could not be independently confirmed, but traders confirmed that the money was returned in full.
The incident has since become a subject of discussion in the market, with many calling for emulation of the honest gesture.