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.
Sidikat Uthman Ajibola Okin High School Yusuf Zulu-Gambari Okanlawon Taiwo Oye Tinuoye Theophilus Oyebiyi BIR Muslim Media Watch Group Of Nigeria Kwara 2015 Ajibola Ademola Julius Adekunle David Dunmade Hauwa Nuru Kanu Agabi The Herald Oniwasi Agbaye Olomu James Kolo Tanke Road Razak Atunwa National Party Of Nigeria Kwarareports.com Bashir Omolaja Bolarinwa Galland Marcias Danladi Abdulrahman Abdulrasak Olumide Daniel Ibitoye Ashiru Olanrewju Okanlawon Musa Ajibola Saliu Ajia Yusuf Olaolu Ali Aremu Bose Deborah Ajayi Okasanmi Abdulraufu Mustapha Oluwole Dupe Maigidasanma Abioye Bello Village Alive Development Association Segun Adeniyi Damilola Yusuf Adelodun Age AbdulKareem Harmony Holdings Ladi Hassan State Bureau Of Internal Revenue Binta Abubakar-Mora Tosho Yaqub Kwara Hotel UITH Saliu Ajia Akume Abdulganiyu Oladosu Goodluck Jonathan Nigerian Medical Association Ridwan Agboola Issa Baba Abdulrazaq Sanni Medview Airlines Abdullahi AbdulMajeed Saka Keji Abdulkadir Jimoh Col. Taiwo Split Diamond Interchange Bolakale Ayo All Peoples Party Olatomiwa Williams Dasuki Belgore Usman Alkali Baba Yakub Ali-Agan Samari M.Y. Abdulrahaman Ella Supreme Tissue Paper Abegunde Goke Mohammed Ibrahim Lola Olabayo Ayinde Oki Ahmed Ayinla Jimoh Modupe Oluwole Yakubu Gobir

