Oyo government, butchers, market leaders react to Bodija clash, vow to deal with perpetrators

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.


TITOPE BLOG 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 clash it was gathered led to the death of about six people.


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.