The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Mohammad Bello has ordered the closure of Dei-Dei international market indefinitely following the clash between traders and Okada Riders on Wednesday.
The clash which claimed at least four lives also led to the destruction of properties worth millions of naira has shops and vehicles were also burnt.
The Minister gave the order after inspecting the scene of the incident alongside the FCT Commissioner of Police, Sunday Babaji and other security agencies.
According to the Minister, trouble started in the market when a female trader fell off a commercial motorcycle and was crushed to death by an articulated vehicle.
While dismissing initial reports of a religion or communal clash, he directed the community and market leaders to fish out the hoodlums responsible for the crisis.
“What really came out clearly is that this is an accident that occurred, unfortunately when a lady on a motorcycle fell off and I think a vehicle ran over her and unfortunately she passed away,” the Minister said.
“As a result of this incident, tension was high. And then hoodlums took over. And like they do everywhere in the world, their target is economic assets. And they burnt down a substantial part of the timber market and other markets around here; they burnt many vehicles.
“This is why I came here to really say that this is an accident that occurred, that went out of hand. There’s no communal clash here and I appeal to everybody in Abuja to live as we have always lived here – in peace. Because everybody has come to this city to earn a living and the economic activities of this city, particularly this part of the city, is very vibrant. A lot of people eke their daily living here.
“What I told the community leaders is that they have to fish out the hoodlums and bad eggs among them.
“This is more unfortunate because this time around, hoodlums carried arms. And they shot innocent people. As a matter of fact, I saw four corpses; this is very sad and totally and 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 road 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.”
The Vice Chairman, Timber Shed Market Dei-Dei, Ifeanyi Chibata told the minister and his team that
45 to 50 shops were burnt with 25 vehicles set ablaze which total over one billion naira.
Also, the Secretary Tomato and Onion Sellers Association Dei-Dei, Dahiru Mani disclosed that four persons were killed during the clash in the market.
He appealed to the minister to ensure the provision of a police division with adequate personnel in the market.
