NEWS
Tension in Onitsha Drug Market as Trader Allegedly Sends Apprentice Packing After Discovering ₦72 Million in His Bank Account, Demands ₦20 Million Refund
There is growing tension in the bustling drug market in Onitsha following reports that a trader allegedly dismissed his apprentice after discovering a staggering ₦72 million in the young man’s bank account.
The development has sparked heated conversations among traders and residents, as details continue to emerge about the incident involving the apprentice, who still has two years left to complete his six-year apprenticeship.
According to sources familiar with the situation, the young man had already served his boss diligently for four years under the popular Igbo apprenticeship system commonly referred to as boy-boy. Trouble reportedly began when the trader became uneasy after hearing about a separate incident in which an apprentice allegedly attacked his boss over the discovery of ₦5 million in his account.
Disturbed by the story, the trader allegedly decided to verify his own apprentice’s financial status. Upon checking, he reportedly found that the young man had ₦72 million in his personal bank account, a discovery that left him shocked and suspicious.
The apprentice, when confronted, reportedly explained that the money was generated from various side hustles and business runs he coordinated independently while still serving his master. However, the explanation did little to calm the visibly angered trader, who allegedly questioned how someone still under apprenticeship could amass such wealth.
Market sources claim the boss also referenced reports from individuals who had allegedly seen the apprentice spending lavishly at nightclubs and eateries, claims he had previously dismissed because he considered the young man disciplined and trustworthy.
Further rumours circulating within the market suggest that the apprentice recently purchased a high-end smartphone, allegedly an iPhone 17 Air, and opened a salon business for his girlfriend. These reports have further fueled speculation about the source of his funds.
In a dramatic twist, the trader allegedly refused to proceed with the traditional settlement process, insisting he would neither involve the police nor continue the apprenticeship arrangement. Instead, he reportedly ordered the young man to vacate the shop immediately.
Even more controversially, the boss is said to have demanded that the apprentice return ₦20 million to him, allowing the young man to keep ₦52 million.
The incident has ignited debate within the Onitsha trading community about trust, transparency, loyalty, and the evolving realities of the Igbo apprenticeship system in the age of side hustles and digital entrepreneurship.
As tensions continue to simmer, many observers say the case underscores the growing complexities within traditional business mentorship structures, especially when apprentices pursue independent financial ventures while sti
ll under tutelage.