Kwara shuts major market as hoodlums, security operatives clash

Date: 2023-03-27

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.

Valsolar-Kwara Company Limited     Modibo Kawu     Kayode Alabi     Kunle Akogun     Waziri Yakubu Gobir     PPS     Bolakale Saka     Shehu Jimoh     Sarafadeen Kayode Akorede     Democracy Day     Ileloke     Abdulkadir Akanbi-Oke     Dankaka     Aiyedun     Doyin Group     Wakilin Mata Lafiagi     Idowu Aremu     Neo Mundo Ltd     Barakat Community Secondary School     Ayoade Akinnibosun     Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     GGDSS Pakata     AGM Professional Services     COEASU     A.O. Belgore     Emmanuel Bello     Garment Factory     Yusuf Amuda Abubakar     Kwara Restoration Project     Razaq Ayobami Akanbi     Ahmad Fatima Bisola     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Suwa-Arabs     Ministry Of Women Affairs And Social Development     Bashirat Bola Bello     Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange     Sa\'adatu Modibbo-Kawu     Abdullahi Biffo     Olupako     Modupe Oluwole     Monthly Sanitation     Owu Fall     John Dara     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Sheikh Ariyibi     Issa Memunat Moyosore     GRA     Olabimpe Olani     Yekeen Alabi     Fawenu     S.O. Opowoye     Olohungbebe     Mustapha AbdulGaniyu     Babaita     UTME     Yusuf Amuda Aluko     Abdulmalik Bashir Mopelola Risikatullahi     Kolade Solagberu     Yaman     Ahmed Shuaib Buranga     Ilesha-Baruba-Gwanara     Lotus Bank     Balogun Gambari     Habeeb Saidu     Baruten     Tinubu     Gobirawa     Face Masks     Muhammed Akanbi     Lateef Fagbemi     Zainab Abass     Oju Ekun Sarumi     Saba Jibril     Egbewole     Shoprite     High Court     Yusuf Badmus    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

Click on a word/phrase to read more about it.

Riskat Opakunle     Aliyu Muhammed     Toyin Abdullahi     Students Union Government     Is\'haq Modibbo Kawu     College Of Health     Oke-Ode     Forgo Battery     GGDSS Pakata     Babata     JAMB     Dunmade     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Post Utme     Galadima     Edret Sabi Abel     Emmanuel Bello     Lateef Ademola Olatunji     Balogun Ajikobi     Salihu Yahaya     V.O. Abioye     Lanre Badmas     National Union Of Road Transport Workers     Balogun Fulani     Ishola Moses Abiodun     Dan Masanin     Ubandoma Of Ilorin     Abdul-Rahoof Bello     M.Y. Abdulrahaman     Oloyede     Kwabes     Yusuf Ali     Moronfoye     Adolescent Girls Initiative For Learning And Empowerment     Standard Organization Of Nigeria     Ahmad Lawan     Damilola Yusuf     Kwara State Health Insurance Agency     National Association Of Nigerian Students     Ghali Alaaya     Kayode Alabi     Oko     Arinola Fatimoh Lawal     Local Government Pension Board     Mahmud Babatunde Baker     Ilorin Durbar     Ojo Fadumila     Stephen Fasakin     Okin Biscuits     Bamidele Aluko     Ilorin General Hospital     Adaramaja     Adijat Adebiyi     Kamaldeen Gambari     Aisha Ahman-Pategi     Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq     Yusuf Mubarak     Durbar Festival     Kwara 2015     Kale Ayo     Adebayo Mohammed Kamaldeen     Adama Isa     Vasolar Consortium     Gbemi Saraki     Grillo     Adamu Ibrahim Sabi     Lotus Bank     Olaitan Adefila     Diagnostic Centre     Post-utme     Muhammad Akande Olarewaju Odunade     Ayo Adeyemi     Otoge     Kola Ologbondiyan     Oyelere Oyinloye     Gafaru Olayiwola Olorisade     Kulende