Koriteh Rush at Serekunda Market Brings Sales, Fear, and Losses

By: Dawda Baldeh

From dawn to dusk, the streets of Serekunda Market are packed with thousands of shoppers, vendors, traders, and passersby, all trying to buy outfits, make sales or, for some, steal, as Muslims prepare for the Koriteh feast just days away. The heavy crowds are bringing a mix of business success, fear, and losses, with many reporting widespread theft.

Musa Jobe, a shoe vendor, said he lost shoes worth over D50,000 that were allegedly stolen from his shop two days ago. “I was heartbroken when I arrived in the morning and discovered that one of the shipments I ordered was missing. It contained shoes valued at over D50,000,” he told The Fatu Network.

Business is active across the market, but petty traders say they are facing additional challenges, not only from theft but also from law enforcement. “The police keep chasing us from one location to another. We don’t have stores, but this is a crucial time for us to make sales,” said Mariama Ceesay, a cosmetics seller.

She said more flexible enforcement would help them sell better and reduce their burden. “Some individuals come here just to steal. They neither sell nor buy, only steal,” said Modou Mbye, another salesman.

In contrast, Victoria, a Nigerian trader, said her business is doing well. “I have been experiencing a significant increase in sales lately,” she said, while also warning about the rise in theft and urging people to stay alert.

Meanwhile, Isatou Sallah and Ebrima Cham said they regretted visiting the market after losing the money they had brought to buy clothes. “I regret coming here…” Isatou said, after losing more than D10,000 to a daytime theft. Ebrima Cham said he lost over D5,000 along with an iPhone 11 Pro Max, leaving both of them devastated.