26th March, 2023
The Kwara State government has announced the date Mandate Market in Ilorin which was shut down during Saturday’s hoodlums’ clash with police will be reopened.
The Kwara State Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology, Malam Ibrahim Akaje, said 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,” Akaje is quoted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
According to NAN, 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 at night.
Police operatives consequently raided the market and arrested some suspects whose kinsmen insisted must be released, degenerating into a 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.