The current economic hardship took a further toll on an Abuja-based middle-aged woman on Friday as she wept uncontrollably after a wheelbarrow pusher vanished with her food items at Kwaita village market in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
According to an eyewitness account, the woman, simply identified as Mrs Rebecca Gbaje, broke down in tears when she discovered that the commercial barrow pusher had made away with the foodstuff she bought and loaded in his barrow as is the popular practice by visitors to the market.
With her screams and wailings attracting other buyers and even traders to the scene, some of those who gathered could be heard sympathizing with the woman, while others quickly formed volunteer groups and went around the market searching for the runaway barrow pusher.
Narrating her ordeal to the sympathisers amid tears and public pity, Mrs Gbaje said the items comprising mudus of rice, beans, and maize, as well as other food ingredients, were packaged into the barrow for the pusher to help take them to the roadside for her on the usually agreed price within the market vicinity.
The woman further stated that with the Barrowman already heading towards the road with the loads, she stopped over to purchase fish and requested that he should wait for her.
Mrs Gbaje, who told her group of sympathisers that she came from Fogbe village to Kwaita market to buy the foodstuff, totaling about N23,300, said unfortunately after buying the fish, she turned around and to her greatest surprise the barrow pusher was nowhere to be seen
However, reacting to her pathetic story, some of the traders and kind-hearted individuals instantly contributed money and offered to the woman to assist replace the stolen items with new purchases.
Indeed, the contribution came as a huge relief to the woman, who amid sobs, expressed heartfelt thanks and gratitude to all the “Good Samaritans” and other well-wishers around her.