Okada/Traders Clash: Minister Orders Markets Closure In Dei-Dei and its Environs
Following Wednesday’s riot in the Dei-Dei area of Abuja which led to the death of eight people, as well as destruction of valuables, the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, has directed the closure of all markets in the area.
Splashnewsng reports how the clash broke out on Wednesday between traders mostly from the Abuja Timber market in the area and Okada riders, after an accident that led to the death of the rider’s passenger.
As a result, the involved commercial motorcyclist was thereafter lynched by the traders, just as his motorcycle along with other seized ones, were set ablaze.
The situation led to the burning of about twenty shops attached to the Timber market, as well as ten vehicles inside a motor park there. Some eyewitnesses who spoke to our correspondent disclosed that the incident which started around 11 am, escalated with the arrival of the security men around 1 pm, and resulted in the death of six people from gunshots, allegedly fired from within the market against others just opposite the facility.
However, the minister visited the area on Wednesday and was accompanied by the Commissioner of Police, FCT, Mr Sunday Babajia; the Director DSS;
Bello commiserated over the loss of lives and property destruction, while he ordered the immediate closure of the facility and also other adjourning markets in the area.
He charged them to give full support in fishing out the bad eggs within their folds, and also help in bringing them to justice.
