A recent mayhem, which led to loss of lives and destruction of assets worth billions of naira in Dei-Dei market in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory, has forced authorities to order the closure of the building materials market indefinitely. Although the victims’ family members have accepted what happened as their fate, GBENGA OMOKHUNU reports that investigation is ongoing to unravel what happened
Tension enveloped Abuja, the nation’s capital, last week Wednesday when five people were killed and several injured following a clash between commercial motorcyclists and traders at Dei- Dei international market. According to eyewitnesses, the calamity started when an unidentified woman was crushed by a long vehicle after falling off a commercial motorbike.
One of the affected traders, Mr. Emeka Ikechukwu, who witnessed the accident, said the crisis started after a motorcycle carrying a woman ran into a trailer and the trailer crushed the woman to death, adding that after killing the woman, the driver of the trailer refused to stop. The errant driver drove off, but was later caught at Dei-Dei junction. He said that the motorcycle riders in the area later mobilised their members to recover the motorcycle that was involved in the accident from the scene of the accident, but some people around who witnessed what happened refused to give them the motorcycle and set it ablaze.
“That was the beginning of the crisis; the motorcycle riders who were visibly angry went back and mobilised themselves from every direction they could penetrate and decided to set the timber shades on fire. All my goods are seriously affected, because my goods are positioned behind the markets. Their attacks were unexpected, as nobody thoughts that burning the motorcycle that led to the death of that innocent woman would lead to this crisis. All these motorcycle riders are always out of control, the government should do something about them”.
The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Mohammad Bello, immediately summoned a security meeting in the heat of the crisis and thereafter led the Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji, Director of the Department of States Services (DSS) and other sister security agencies to the scene where multi-million naira worth of building materials were razed. After listening to briefings and coupled with the five corpses the minister saw that evening around 7:30pm, he ordered the indefinite closure of the affected market till further notice.
The angry minister also directed the community and the market leaders to fish out the hoodlums responsible for the crisis. Bello vowed to persecute anyone responsible for the crisis no matter the situation. His words: “The community and market leaders must fish out hoodlums and bad eggs among them; unfortunately this time around hoodlums carry arms and they shot innocent people. As a matter of fact I saw four corpses; this is very sad and totally, unequivocally unacceptable in Abuja.
“We have agreed with security agencies that full-scale investigations will be done, and the communities have to be part and parcel of the solution or else there will be no peace. In the interim, the timber market and the surrounding markets, including all the activities on roads that have clustered the road and made it unpassable will all stop until the technical team reviews everything, and then we will take the next decision.
“I am appealing to other communities within the FCT that there is no tribal or religious misunderstanding because all the leaderships of various communities have lived here in peace for many years. This is simply the matter of criminals and hoodlums taking the laws into their hands,” he said.
On his part, the Vice Chairman, Timber Shed Market, Ifeanyi Chibata, told the minister that between 45 and 50 shops were burnt while 25 vehicles were set ablaze during the riot. Chibata put the total value of destroyed plank and building materials at over one billion naira. The Secretary, Tomato and Onions Sellers Association, Dei-Dei Dahiru Garba Mani, revealed that the four persons were shot by hoodlums during the clash in the market.
A day after the mayhem, a visit to the scene showed that traders held meetings in groups, depending on the section of the market they belong to. Some weapon-wielding motorcyclists also assembled in their clusters watching the traders just as the heavy presence of armed security personnel provided the barrier needed to prevent another deadly clash. The market was a ghost of its former self with all shops closed; while the road was devoid of the usual hustle and bustle it was known for.
The traders, however, did not hold back their frustration as they vehemently protested the closure of the market where they earn their means of livelihood; while the okada riders, who were also involved in the skirmish, were allowed to go about their business activities. The Vice Chairman of the Dei-Dei International building materials market, Celestine Ekebo, who spoke with Abuja Review, also expressed concerns over the development, noting that the administration’s decision was in the best interest of the territory and its residents.
He called on both the affected and non-affected members of the market to cooperate with the administration until when the necessary investigations are carried out. Ekebo added that the administration, through the Abuja Market Management Ltd, had asked the traders to evaluate the properties destroyed and present it to the administration for possible compensation. Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Fom Pam, who was on the ground to ensure the situation does not escalate, told Abuja Review that the police, in collaboration with sister agencies, have initiated strategies that will ensure normalcy was restored to the area. Findings revealed that the reopening of the market may take a while following the minister’s decision to get to the root of the crisis.
We accept our fate – victims’ family
Last Sunday, some family members of those who lost their loved ones in the unfortunate mayhem expressed sadness over the development. Responding on their behalf, Malam Ibrahim Idriss, who said he lost a relative simply identified as Harisu, during the crisis, described the incident as unfortunate and that they have accepted their fate. Idriss said this when a delegation from the FCT visited and condoled with the families of those who lost loved ones.
The delegation, which was led by the FCT Permanent Secretary, Mr. Olusade Adesola, also met with leaders of the affected traders, Igbo and Hausa communities, political leaders as well as Chief of Jiwa Chiefdom, Alh. Musa Idris. Idriss said the visit is a welcome development, as it was very soothing and has reassured them to keep hope alive.
Recall that troubled ensued Wednesday between some irate okada operators and traders, in the wake of an accident involving woman (simply identified as Bukky) who allegedly fell of a moving motorcycle and was crushed by a truck in the area. In a message delivered on his behalf, the minister noted that he was deeply touched when he received the news of the unrest that resulted in the destruction of lives and property during the unfortunate incident. He urged the families to remain calm and strong in the face of the tragedy, prayed Almighty God to grant eternal rest to the victims and also give the families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.
The minister also announced the release of cash token being handled by the Mandate Secretary, FCT Area Councils’ Services Secretariat to at least show that the FCT loves them, feels their pains and shares with them, in the period of sorrow. The delegation said, “On behalf of the Minister, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello, and Minister of State for FCT, Dr Ramatu Tijjani Aliyu, I convey their commiseration and condolences to you, and pray that God will help us not to see repeat of such situation. It’s our prayer that God would allow this to happen again. This peace that we are building on, let’s continue to sustain it, as it’s very important for us. Just as we have seen, we are one, as we have one objective, and let’s build on it.
“The Minister sent us especially to the families of the victims (those that lost their loved ones). No matter what we give, it cannot replace the lost lives. “But he believes that the little token being handled by the Mandate Secretary, FCT Area Councils’ Services Secretariat will at least show that the FCT loves you, feels your pains and shares with you in this period of sorrow. We pray to God that we will not see this type of situation again.”
The delegation, while thanking the Sarkin Jiwa for his quick interventions all the time, his support and fatherly role, also used the opportunity to relate the minister’s appeal to residents of the area to remain calm and support the FCT administration and security agencies in their effort at building and maintaining peace in the territory. Also speaking, Chief of Igbo community in Deidei, Tochukwu Nzediegwu, who described the mayhem that followed the fatal accident as unfortunate, thanked the FCT minister for sending a delegation to visit and commiserate with the affected families.
He, however, noted that the FCT minister’s decision to order the immediate closure of markets in the area has helped to reduce tension and escalation of the crisis. Among those who received the delegation were Mrs Joy U. Solomon, wife of one of the victims, late Ugwu Solomon, AMAC chairman, Abdullahi Adamu Candido, Sarkin Jiwa, Councillor of Gwagwa/Jiwa Ward, religious and market leaders respectively. It is the belief of all stakeholders that investigation would be concluded as soon as possible for the to reopening of the market.