Ekiti Market Razed, Govt Relocates Hausa Traders

The clash between the Hausa and commercial drivers in Ekiti State has degenerated as the most stocked part of the popular Oja-Oba (King’s market) in the capital, Ado Ekiti, was razed down just before dawn on Friday.The perpetrators had not been identified as at press time.

The residents were perplexed by the incident in view of the heavy presence of mobile police officers and other security men in Ado Ekiti, as a result of the dusk-to-down curfew imposed by the Governor.
The market, situated directly opposite the palace and adjudged to be the largest in the state and populated by Yoruba traders was razed at about 2.Am without assistance from fire fighters who were helpless, according to eye witnesses.
The Daily Times learnt that  men of the state fire service made spirited efforts to put out the fire but it was to no avail. They were reportedly scared away by the sporadic gun shots booming around the scene.
Though, the identities of those responsible for the act was yet to be made public as at press time, a good number of residents are suspicious that enraged Hausa settlers whose shops and wares were either burnt or vandalized on the first day of the crisis on Wednesday carried out the reprisal attack to avenge their losses.
When a our correspondent got to the burnt market in the early hours of the day, owners of the affected stalls were seen wailing and lamenting their losses amidst heavy presence of armed soldiers and mobile men, while most schools in the city could not open their gate to pupils. Those who opened before getting to know the situation in town, had to hurriedly send back school children to their different homes.
The situation forced banks and other business outfits to also shut down their gates to businesses, while vehicular and pedestrians movements were paralysed.
No fewer than 50 shops as well as two residential buildings were consumed along with goods worth several millions of Naira by the fire, just as official and commercial activities that were gradually picking up before Friday’s incident went down again as virtually all major streets were deserted in the state capital.
Trucks load of mobile and regular policemen as well as soldiers were immediately drafted on the orders of the state government to prevent escalation of the crisis and prevent massive looting, just as number of residents were also randomly arrested by men of the state police command in connection with the development.
Thereafter, the Governor who personally led security team that included the newly posted Commissioner of Police, Mr. Etop James to the scene, expressed worry at the turn of event despite his imposition of dusk to dawn curfew only on Thursday.
Fayose who ordered that four luxurious buses belonging to government be immediately mobilized to convey all Hausa residents (including women and children) in the city to a neutral ground called “shasha” situated along Ado-Ekiti-Ikere-Ekiti road, told Daily Times that his action was to protect them from being attacked.
The governor, who, for more than three hours monitored the evacuation, premised his action on the fact that he is a father to all residents, irrespective of their tribe, religion or sex, adding that the Hausa community would be at the new place for the time being, and would be heavily guarded by both soldiers and mobile policemen.
In a chat with journalists,  the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Etop James asserted that he, and his men, were already on top of the situation, saying people should go on their normal businesses without fear.
Mainwhile, the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ekiti State‎ has said Governor Ayodele Fayose should be held responsible for various acts of violence in the state, saying the current spread of violence in the state capital had the imprints of the usual government-orchestrated violent acts to achieve a pre-determined end.
Reacting to ‎the recent violent acts rocking the state, APC Publicity Secretary, Taiwo Olatubosun, regretted that Ekiti people were used to the government-inspired violent acts, which they experienced between 2003 and 2006 during the governor’s first stint and so there was  little to worry about on the same pattern of  serial violence that was rocking the state to achieve a purpose.
‘We had on several occasions raised the alarm over importation of thugs who are quartered in the Government House. Since their arrival, Ekiti State has slid to the era of one day one trouble that characterized Fayose’s government between 2003 and 2006.
‘Eminent lawyer, Femi Falana, also raised the same concern, calling on the governor to send away his thugs to allow peace to reign in Ekiti State,’ Olatubosun said.
The party sympathised with Hausa traders, who it described as victims of government-inspired violence to create a sense of insecurity to enable the governor devise extra-security measures that would allow him achieve a predetermined end.
The APC spokesman urged the security agencies to consider treating the party’s petitions on various acts of violence ‎by the thugs kept in the Government House and devise a means of ending violence in Ekiti State.
‘We recall various unprecedented attacks on our members, their houses, our office and tearing or burning ‎down of the posters and billboards  of our candidates during electioneering campaigns over which we petitioned the National Human Rights Commission.

“After the elections, kidnappings began. Now is the time for urban violence pitting the thugs against Hausa traders to create ethnic tension that has potential for national crisis while at the same time the governor is planning to inaugurate the new House of Assembly on June 1 to create anarchy.
‘It is regrettable that we are back to the era of one day, one trouble that marked out Fayose as a man that thrives in violence,’he said.‎