SLC-S32/W4 | Frames of My World : Hidden Corners of My Area

Hello steemians, glad to have you all as I share my visit to the hidden corners around me. Now, let's dive into my world of hidden discovery.

Entrance of the Mammy market

Where is this hidden place located?

The place I consider hidden in my photo is located at the 245 Recce Battalion Afi Barracks in Cross River State. It is called the "Mammy market", It's not too far from Edor, Ikom LGA, I visited this place on the 16th of June 2026, the market has existed since the existence of the 245 Recce Battalion. I can confidently say that the main reason why this area is often considered a hidden gem is that people don't know the place due to a lack of traffic and fewer individuals coming to buy whatever they need.

Selfie at the entrance

First shop at the entrance

To be able to get here from anywhere around the Ikom LGA, you have to board a cab or a motorcycle to get to Mammy market, you just have to tell the driver or cyclist that you want to go to Mammy market, at the 245 Recce battalion Afi Barracks. It is mostly filled with soldiers and nearby individuals who know of the place.

Why do you consider it a hidden or lesser-known place

The reason why I consider this a hidden environment is because, when you look at my video and pictures you can see that there are few people at the Mammy market, not just that but also because most people who buy and sell at this market are individuals that you will always see. I also consider it a hidden place because the market doesn't look modern, and that the shops are locally made with woods, rusted zinc and in a dusty red ground settlement. And majorly because you can't find all you need here for instance, phone selling shops, hair dressing salons, and boutiques for clothes and other accessories.

	Rutoda/sit out for cultural meals

	Visible basic daily needs

	rough soil

It is also hidden because most items that are sold here are for daily use, for example okra, dry fish, toothpaste, and minor cooking items. I also know that the price of goods affects more individuals to come since most individuals are retailers making the price of goods increase to make high earnings. The Mammy market is just a small-scale market for the purchase of daily needs and for that reason, it can't attract more people who will also have places where they can also buy their basic necessities.

What makes this location special or unique?

When I explored the Mammy market it seemed as if they will be nothing special or unique about the place because of how local it is, but when I got to the pharmacy in the Mammy market I was completely stunned because I couldn't believe that such a local environment could have a pharmacy of high standards. I had to talk to some individuals around to verify whether the pharmacy had existed a long time ago. They responds was that the pharmacy was built three years ago by "Mr Missali" a retired soldier who studied pharmacy in school, they responds was that since the existence of the pharmacy they cases of death reduced and illness were treated.

	A costumer waiting to be attended too

	Mr Missali the founder of the pharmacy & a clear view of the pharmacy

I felt happy about this because, the innovation of bringing the locals easy and accessible healthcare services is brilliant and special, because most local areas don't have a single hospital not to mention having a pharmacy. They explained that the new creation helped individuals there to live healthy lives.

A buyer and seller discussing

Another thing that makes the Mammy market special is the good relationship that exists between the buyers and the sellers, sellers could often offer to lower the price of goods because of how the economy has changed. In my video, you can see buyers talking with sellers. The way they communicate with each other shows that they understand that the increase in price of goods is not the seller's fault because they're just retailers who sell based on how they purchase from the wholesalers.

What did you discover or learn while visiting this place?

When I was visiting this place, I first of all discovered that a lot of retailers make sure that their shop is always stocked to maintain a solid trust with their customers. I was shocked to see how the small-scale retailers in this area knew how the business world works, it was a mystery to me because of how local the place looks. I discovered that most people who buy goods here are soldiers, their wives, and their children.

	Organized shop

	Fully stocked shop

Another fact that I learned was that even though a lot of people don't buy items at the market the retailers make sure that they keep everything in order and arrange the items in an orderly manner. I also discovered that they also spray perfume to make the inner atmosphere of the shop smell good. "**I found out that the barracks came into existence due to a communal war between the Edor and Afi people, which made the Federal government seize the land and transformed it into a barrack where we now have the Mammy market located.

What story or feeling do you think this place expresses through your photographs?

When I was at the place I felt like I should become a small-scale retailer since the market was close to the barracks, which means adequate safety. I liked how free the place was, I feel that anyone who sees my photographs will feel a touch of the street markets vibe. I think that my photographys also shows that we should learn to appreciate the little opportunities surrounding us in this kind of environment, and also applaud the time and work of small-scale business owners.

Selfie in the market

I also felt the struggles of life for individuals who depend on their small-scale businesses to earn a living. I think that my photos carry a direct story/message that the Mammy market should be recognized because of its peaceful environment and in that way, more individuals can establish their shops and grow the place into a modern market.

Name of place Visited	Mammy market
Location	245 Recce battalion Afi Barracks / 5J5P+GXH, Edor Abangork 562261, Cross River
Opening hours	Everyday
Security	Watch guarding and patrolling by soldiers
Steem atlas pin	[//]:# (!steematlas 6.1576992 lat 8.6378989 long Mammy market d3scr)
Goggle maps	https://maps.app.goo.gl/tiqeDP645JfGV7J97

Cc: @pea07 & @sohanurrahman

I would like to invite

@josepha
@ninapenda
@dasudi
@yuswadinisam

Thanks for reading this post!!!