JUST IN: Oyo Govt Closes Bodija Market Over Traders/Police Clash

The Oyo State Government has shut down Bodija market, Ibadan, as police and butchers clash on Thursday.

According to the verified twitter handle of the Oyo State Government, @oyostategovt, it was shut after gunshots were heard in the market.

The tweet added that the chairman of Aare Laatosa Local Council Development Area, Adekunle Oladeji, said the closure was to prevent the loss of lives and property. “It is also to guard against the escalation of violence in the market to other parts of the state,” the tweet said.

The state government had directed that the butchers should relocate to a new abattoir outside the town but the butchers did not agree with the directive.

On Tuesday, the butchers staged a protest at the state secretariat in Ibadan over the demolition of the abattoir in the market by the government over the weekend.

Our correspondent learnt that Thursday’s clash began when some of the butchers accused their leaders of taking gratification from the government to support the relocation order.

The clash led to the closure of shops in the market while traders vacated the market because of the commotion.

When contacted, Public Relations Officer of the Oyo State Police Command, Adekunle Ajisebutu, said he would come up with a statement on the clash soon.