The Oyo State government, the National Butchers Union of Nigerian (NBUN) and market leaders on Thursday reacted to the clash that occurred between butchers and some security agents including police in the early hours of Thursday at the popular Bodija market in Ibadan, the state capital.
DAILY POST recalls that the clash between the two was as a result of rejection of the relocation order given to the butchers in the 11 Local Government Areas in Ibadan by the state government to move to a central abattoir located at Amosun village in Akinyele Local Government Area.
The State government while describing the incident as unfortunate, however, said the perpetrators would not be spared. It also condoled with the families of those who lost their lives in the fracas.
Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Toye Arulogun while addressing journalists at a press conference involving the butchers, Bodija Traders and the Oyo State Government officials, Thursday evening said that, “The loss of lives through the mayhem was unfortunate, sad and highly regrettable.”
Arulogun said, “Such deaths were needless and avoidable only if people can follow due process and not take laws into their hands,” stressing that, “the mayhem will be thoroughly investigated and perpetrators will not go unpunished”.
NBUN South Western Coordinator including Kwara, Alhaji Biliaminu Elesinmeta while reacting appealed to the state government and the security agencies to thoroughly investigate the crisis that occurred at the market.
Elesinmeta said that the butchers in the state got a favourable deal in the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed with the government on the relocation to the Central Abattoir, wondering why some members decided to kick against the order.
He said, “We regret what happened in Bodija this morning. The National Executives of our union as well as the South West Executives were properly briefed when the state chapter of our union was having series of stakeholders’ meeting with the governor. We saw the MoU and it was quite clear and plain. It’s obvious that Oyo State Government meant well for our people.
“What is still baffling us is why some members are causing trouble. Everyone was carried along in the relocation process and the terms and conditions were properly explained. We are also surprised with the mayhem at Bodija Market as our members are law abiding. We do not have touts in our midst and this is why we want to passionately appeal to the government and the security agencies to thoroughly investigate the matter. Our members have been infiltrated as we preach orderliness and peaceful conduct among our members”.
Babaloja of Bodija market, Alhaji Sumaila Jimoh,however, appealed to the government to reopen the market as soon as possible, explaining that the market is the only source of livelihood for majority of the traders there.
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