Kwara shuts major market as hoodlums, security operatives clash
Kwara state Government has ordered the immediate shutting of Mandate Market in Ilorin following Saturday's skirmishes in the major trading centre.
Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Malam Ibrahim Akaje, stated in Ilorin on Saturday that the market would be re-opened on Monday.
“Government has restored normalcy to the market after the initial tension and opportunist attacks by hoodlums on peoples' properties.
“Government hereby directs temporary closure of the market for security reasons pending resolution of some issues that triggered the disturbances.
“Government commends the prompt response of security agencies to distress calls from shop owners. We warn against further trouble from any quarters.
“The market and activities of everyone involved therein are regulated by laws, which must be respected by all,'' he stated.
Scores of people were injured in the skirmishes as law enforcement agents and suspected shop breakers clashed at the market on Saturday.
Some shop owners had complained to security agencies that petty traders, guards, cleaners or load carriers who resided in the market always broke into the shops in the night.
Police operatives consequently raided the market and arrested some suspects whose kinsmen insisted must be released, a situation which degenerated into the fracas between them and the operatives.
Police operatives had to fire teargas canisters to disperse the mob which had gathered to attack the operatives and shop owners who lodged the complaints.
Following the free-for-all, shop owners quickly closed for business and fled.
Motorist plying the route on which the market is located had to make detours so as not to be caught in the imbroglio.
A reinforcement of security operatives including the police, men of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were despatched to the market to bring the situation under control.
Spokesman of the NSCDC in Kwara, Mr Ayeni Olasunkanmi, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the fracas was an aftermath of a raid earlier carried out by the police.
“It was the aftermath of a raid carried out by the police in the market because of complaints from shop owners that some people regularly broke into their shops at night.
“Kinsmen of the arrested suspects insisted that the police must release those arrested.
“The situation there is under control. Other sister agencies are there to ensure that the situation remains calm,'' he said.
Police spokesman in Kwara, SP Okasanmi Ajayi, also told NAN that the breach of public peace in the market was caused by “a misunderstanding between two groups of tomatoes and pepper sellers.
“No casualty has been recorded in the fracas so far,'' he said.
(NAN)
Cloud Tag: What's trending
Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.
Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa Na\'Allah Mahmud Ajeigbe LAK Jimoh Tunde Oyawoye Elections Obasanjo Yahaya Abdulkareem Babaita Saliu Alamoyo Abdulahi Abubakar Bata Ayinde Oyepitan Baakini Wakilin Mata Lafiagi Coalition Of Kwara North Groups International Aviation College Rex Olawoye Olabode Towoju Shehu Alimi Foundation For Peace And Development Femi Oladiji Ibrahim Mashood Iqra Books Abdulkarim Adisa Kola Shittu Lai Mohammed Sun Qing Rong Majlis For Sadakah, Zakat And Waqf College Of Arabic And Islamic Legal Studies Ubandoma Of Ilorin Yaman Ilorin Central Mosque Kwara NIPR Medinat Folorunsho Salman Afin Descendants Union Of Odo-Owa Esuwoye Baba-Isale Opaleke Bukola Iyabo Rasheed Jimoh Kemi Adeosun Simeon Sule Ajibola Olusola Saraki NITDA Ibrahim Labaika Kunbi Titiloye Adamu Atta IESA Lawal Arinola Kudirat Ayinde Oki Elesie Of Esie Sadiq Umar IsDB Habeeb Saidu Ilorin Metro Park Moremi High School Shade Omoniyi Aliyu Kora-Sabi Kupchi Hosea Maxwell Oyedepo Lukman Oyebanji Fagbemi Tsaragi Hijab Abdulrahman Abdulrasaq Seni Saraki JAAC Fatai Olodo Arinola Lawal Oniye Shuaibu Yaman Abdullahi Tope Daramola Adebayo Salami Ballah Communication Network Support Services Isaac Aderemi Kolawole Oniwasi Agbaye Elerinjare Matthew Babaoye Alaaya Amoyo

