Saturday, August 24, 2013

Pandemonium in Bodija Market as Yoruba, Hausa traders clash

There was pandemonium at the popular Bodija Market in Ibadan, Oyo
State on Friday when Hausa and Yoruba beans traders clashed.
The traders of the two ethnic stock clashed over disagreement on the
sale of beans in the market.
As a result of the confusion, traders and customers hurriedly left the
market so as not to be caught in the clash.
Though no life was lost in the clash due to the prompt intervention of
security operatives, but properties, including cars, truck conveying
beansfrom the North, pepper, beans, fruit and other market products
were destroyed.
It was gathered that tension has heightened in the market after the
June5, 2013 killing of 10 beans traders by Boko Haram members in the
North.
After the killing, the Ibadan Foodstuff Traders Association placed an
indefinite ban on travelling to the North to purchase beans on its
members.
It was gathered that despite the ban, Hausa traders still brought
beans from the North to the market and sell at very exorbitant prices.
The situation worsened as a bag of beans has rose from N11,000 to N20,000
Owing to this, a peace meeting between the two tribes was called by
the state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Indabawa.
It was after the meeting that fighting broke out between the two tribes.
After returning from the peace parley at the Oyo State Police
Commandheadquarters in Eleyele, Ibadan, it was gathered that beans
sellers fromthe North took delivery of three trailers of their
commodity.
But on sighting the three trailer loads of beans, there was a violent
reaction from the Yorubas traders in the market.
This later spread to the whole market.
As a result of the confusion, the whole market was deserted,.
A combined team of riot policemen and the Oyo State Government
security outfit, Operation Burst, chased people away from the market.
Many people were seen with their hands up in strict obedience to order
of the security operatives.
Akeem Emiola, the Public Relations Officer of the Ibadan Foodstuff
Sellers Association, confirmed the violent clash to Sun News Online.
Emiola said: "No one from the association ordered reprisal attack on theHausas."
He added that nobody could explain the cause of the pandemonium.
He said after the meeting with Indabawa, no one expected any violence.

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