The Oyo State Government on Thursday shut down Bodija market following a violence erupted in the market where security agents and butchers clashed over the relocation of the abattoir from the market to Amosun Village in Akinyele local government.
Following the Thursday’s fracas where two people were reportedly killed and a police station burnt, butchers in the city have been protesting against the relocation of abattoir in the city’s markets to a central one at Amosun Village, Akinyele Local Government Area.
But at a press conference on Thursday by the state government after the fracas at the state ministry of Information, the Executive Secretary, Bureau of Investment Promotion, Mr. Yinka Fatoki explained that the directive of the state government to relocate the butchers from their various abattoirs to the central new site followed the insanitary conditions occasioned by the activities of the butchers.
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According to him, this is the reason the state government provided the new abattoir at Amosun village with modern facilities that will ensure a cleaner and safer environment. He explained how the state government and local government signed a MoU with the Association of the butchers and the contracted company, Ibadan Central Abattoir and what led to today’s mayhem.
Fatoki said prior to the compliance of the executive members of the association, the butchers were well oriented on the decision and they were fully convinced after they had reasoned with government on provisions of incentives and financial assistance to carry out their operations.
On the cause of the mayhem, Fatoki said the ministry of Agriculture that controls the affair of the butchers on Friday put notice at all abattoirs in the city but the butchers in Bodija markets went to remove the notice. He said the incident was reported to the state police command where policemen were deployed to arrest the suspected persons on Monday for infringement on court order and were arraigned on Tuesday.
Fatoki further stated that following court order to maintain status quo of withdrawal of license by ministry of Agriculture since 2014 from the butchers till adjourned date, the members of the taskforce and police were attacked on Thursday. He said to forestall brigandage of threat to lives and properties was the reason the market was shut.
Also speaking, the Secretary of Nigerian Butchers Association, Oyo State Chapter, Alh. Lateef Adegoke said their lives as executive members of the butchers are no longer safe saying they won’t be able to sleep tonight with their families in their various homes.
He said after they had agreed with the government directive, some aggrieved members don’t agree with it and they are the one behind this crises.
