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.

Kwara University Of Education     Vasolar-Kwara Company Ltd     Abdulquowiyu Olododo     CBT     Gbemi Saraki     IHS Towers     Muyiwa Oladipo Kanu     Oke-Ogun     Ilorin Talaka Parapo     Sa\'adu Salahu     Transition Implementation Committee     Mohammed Ibrahim     Laboratory-to-Product     Olusola Saraki     Samari     AbdulKareem Yusuf Danhawa     NURTW     Dasuki Belgore     Afolayan     Jimoh Akani     Abubakar Abdullahi Bata     Mutawalle     Oluwatoyin Lukman     Paul Olawoore     Amuda Aluko     ENetSuD     Saba Mamman Daniel     Sa\'ad Alanamu     Oyawoye     KFA     Abatemi-Usman     Afeyin-Olukuta     Yusuf Abdulwahab     Abdulfatai Salman Baakini     Kwara Primary Health Care Development Agency     Ibrahim Gambari     Esuwoye     CLAY POT     Rihanat Ajia     Donatus Ejidike     Balikis Jawondo     IFK     Salihu Ajibola Ajia     Elese Of Igbaja     John Obuh     Abiodun Jacob Ajiboye     Gbajabiamila     Yekeen Alabi     Ebola     Ike Ekweremadu     Computer Based Test     Yunus Oniboki     Titus Ashaolu     Sobi FM     Fola Consultant     Senate     Akom Construction And Engineering Synergy Ltd     Yahya Mohammed     Lithium     Olufolake Abdulrazaq     UNILORIN Alumni Association     Ahmad Ali     AGILE Programme     Rotimi Oyedepo     Kwara     Sunset Workers     Farouk Salim     Odo-Owa     Paul Odama     Geri-Alimi Split Diamond Interchange     Cassava Growers\' Association     Plat Technologies Limited     Haliru Dantoro     Asa     Neuropsychiatric Hospital     Afusat Nike Ibrahim     Zainab Abass    

Cloud Tag: What's trending

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

Sulyman Tejidini     Habeeb Saidu     3MTT     Ariyo     Ibrahim Oniye     Folajimi Aleshinloye     Aliyu Umar     Monthly Sanitation Exercise     Abdulrasheed Akogun     Olabimpe Olani     Oba Of Jebba     Abdullahi Adisa Akodudu     College Of Health     Lawal Jimoh     Aso-ofi     Chief Of Staff     Offa Grammer School     Bello Oyebanji     Salihu Alhaji Musa     IPSAS     Jide Oyinloye     Marufat Oladosu     General Tunde Idiagbon International Airport Ilorin     Muritala Awodun     Oyeyemi Olasumbo Florence     Abdullahi G. Mohammad     Yoonus Kola Olatinwo     Temi Kolawole     Law School Scholarship     Muhammed Abdullahi     Kazeem Adekanye     Yusuf Zulu-Gambari     Gbadeyan Gbadura Yomi     Kwara University Of Education     Olukotun Of Ikotun     Bolaji Abdullahi     HICA     COEASU     Olaoye B. Felix     Freshvine Nigeria Limited     Ilorin Innovation Hub     Ibraheem Abdullateef     Alumni Association Of The Federal Polytechnic Offa     Abdulganiyu Salahudeen     Seed Technologies     Salman Jawondo     Saidu Isa     Mufutau Gbadamosi Esuwoye     Taofik Mustapha     Zaratu Umar     Kwara NIPR     Ileloke     Halidu Danbaba     Toun Okewale-Sonaiya     Fatimoh Lawal     Vishvas KOZ Tractors     Idris Amosa Oladipo Saidu     Abubakar Olusola Saraki     Sarakite     Joana Nnazua Kolo     Mamman Saba Jibril     Olomu     BIR     Pilgrims Board     International Aviation College     Abdullahi Dasilva Yussuf     Oloriegbe     Abubakar Baba Sulaiman     Vasolar Consortium     ER-KANG     Abdulfatai Baakini     Albert Ogunsola     Savannah Centre For Diplomacy, Democracy And Development     Olushola Saraki     Olatunji Ibrahim     Oke-Odo     Ilorin Durbar