Policemen in Kwara State yesterday clashed with suspected shop breakers in Ilorin, the state capital. During the encounter scores of people sustained injuries.
The fracas happened at Mandate market, Adewole area of the metropolis.
It was gathered that some shop owners in the market had complained to security agencies that some petty traders, guards, cleaners, or load carriers who reside in the market always break into shops at night at will.
It was also gathered that policemen from the market police post had raided the market following complaints by some victims of burglary incidents in the market. Some of the suspects arrested were mainly youths suspected to be of northern extraction. The clash degenerated because their people insisted that they must be released.
In the wake of the agitation, pandemonium reportedly broke out in the market, prompting the police to fire tear gas canisters to disperse the mob who had allegedly gathered to attack policemen and shop owners who lodged complaints with the police.
Following the free for all, shop owners quickly closed for business and ran for their dear lives while motorists plying the mandate market route from Al -Hikma- University road and those from Garin Alimi to Mandate quickly made a detour to avoid being caught up in the incident.
Reinforcement of security agents including the police, and operatives of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), were quickly dispatched to the market to bring the situation under control.
The spokesman of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in the state, Ayeni Olasunkanmi, said the fracas was an aftermath of a raid earlier carried out by law enforcement officers in the market.
“The issue there at the market was an aftermath of a raid carried out by the Nigeria Police in the market due to complaints from the marketers that some shop breakers used to operate inside the market in the night.
Kwara state government yesterday ordered the shutdown of the Mandate Market in Ilorin following Saturday morning skirmishes in the major trading centre.
The market will be re-opened on Monday from 8a.m., according to a statement by the Honourable Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology Mallam Ibrahim Akaje.
“Even though the government has restored normalcy to the market after the initial tension and opportunist attacks by hoodlums on people’s properties, the government hereby directs temporary closure of the market for security reasons pending resolution of some issues that had triggered the disturbances,” the statement added.
“The government commends the prompt response of the security agencies to the distress calls. 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.
“The market will be reopened on Monday while efforts have begun to resolve all pending issues.”