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.

Ubandoma Of Ilorin     Adamu B. Yaqubu     Amule     Bayo Mohammed Onimode     United Nigeria Congress Party     Peter Amogbonjaye     Prince Mahe Abdulkadir     Minimum Wage     Muhammad Yahya     Abegunde Goke     Zubair Folorunsho Erubu     Bashir Adigun     Logun     Yusuf Abdulraheem     Alapansapa     Harrison Osauwagboe     Pategi     Ayinde Oyepitan     Volunteers Of Ilorin Community And The Emirate     Kwara 2023     Abraysports FC     Akorede     IEDPU     Bisi Oyeleke     Pakata     Valsolar Consortium     Budo-Egba     Trade Lenda SME Fair     Alao Ayotunde     Ajia-Bako     Issa Manzuma     Saad Belgore     Kwara State Printing And Publishing Corporation     HICA     Salihu Jibril Garbi     Ilorin Anchor Men And Women     Medview Airlines     Yusuf Ibitokun Sherifat     Sadiq Buhari     Elerinjare-Ibobo     Omotoso Musa     Benin Republic     Funmilayo Braithwaite     Maja     MalHub     Sardauna Of Ilorin     Abdulkadri Ahmad Alaiye     Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu     Magaji Are     Maryam Nurudeen     Aminu Ado Bayero     Abubakar Imam     Sulu Babaita Isiaka     Ibrahim Agboola Gambari     Fatai Olodo     Saliu Mustapha     Olosi Of Osi     Talaka Parapo     Amos Sayo     Sunset Workers     Bolaji Nagode     Erin-ile     Amos Bajeh     Oba David Oyerinola Adedunmoye     Saka Keji     Kwara     Col. Taiwo     Mahe Abdulkadir     Summit University     Shuaib Boni Aliyu     Bello Oyedepo     Moses Adekanye     Raji AbdulRasaq     Idris Amosa Saidu     Societe Generale Bank Of Nigeria     Tunji Arosanyin     Bola Magaji    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Albert Ogunsola     Sheikh Ridhwanullah     IDPU     Aisha Abodunrin Ibrahim     Kwara State University Of Education     Offa Descendants Union     Muhammad Ghali Alaaya     Abdulkadir Akanbi-Oke     Ibrahim Mohammed     Falokun-Oja     Yusuf Lanre Badmus     Afonja Descendants Union     Isaac Aderemi Kolawole     Akom Construction And Engineering Synergy Ltd     Ayeyemi Sulaiman     Wahab Isa     Tafida Of Kaiama     Zaratu Umar     Hydroelectric Power Producing Areas Development Commission     Ilorin Emirate     Kwara Consultative Forum     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Ayo Adeyemi     Taofeek Ibraheem     Muhammad Akande Olarewaju Odunade     Funmilayo Mohammed     Tanke Road     Folorunsho Erubu     Sabi     Zulkifli Ibraheem     Adedayo Yusuf Abdulkareem     Shuaib Jawondo     A.O. Belgore     Senior Special Assistant On Student Affairs     Abdulrasheed Lafia     Benin Republic     Siddiq Adebayo Idowu Salawu     Alao Ayotunde     Amina El-Imam     Saka Saadu     Kwasu     Moshood Mustapha     Kayode Issa     Suraj Tunji Oyewale     Haruna Olawale Sulaiman     Ibrahim Bio     CACOVID     Freshvine Nigeria Limited     Hijaab     Danhawa     Olatunde Michaels     Sodiya     Yahaya Oloriegbe     Kunbi Titiloye     Asiwaju Bola Tinubu     Abubakar Aliagan     Sobi Specialist Hospital     Arik     Lateef Alagbonsi     Hamidat Sulyman-Yusuf     Oloruntoyosi Thomas     Transition Implementation Committee     Amuda Aluko     University Road     Sa\'adu Gambari     Omotoso Musa     Ronke Adeyemi     Aisha Buhari     Kwara Volleyball Association     Salman Jawondo     Sulyman Age AbdulKareem     TIC     Aro Yahaya     Muhammad Fawaz Abubakar     Gurei     Amina Susa\'a De Ahmed     Wale Oladepo