Monrovia, March 3 -- Commercial activities across Maryland County came to an unusual halt on Monday as hundreds of marketers staged a peaceful protest, demanding the immediate removal of County Market Superintendent Abraham Wilson over what they described as prolonged neglect, rising market fees, and a lack of accountability.

Shops remained shuttered and trading grounds deserted across key commercial centers, including the bustling markets in Pleebo and the county's capital, Harper, disrupting the traditional Monday trading routine widely observed across the county.

Dressed predominantly in red, the aggrieved marketers - mostly women who form the backbone of local commerce - marched to the County Administrative Building in Harper, chant...