25 persons arrested over Dutsen-Alhaji Market violence
No fewer than 25 people have so far been arrested in connection with the violence in Dutsen-Alhaji Market which resulted in setting ablaze of the office of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).
Following the violence which started in the early hours of Tuesday, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has ordered the immediate shut down of the popular Oloye Olajumoke Modern Market located in the Bwari Area Council.
Announcing the order, the Chairman of the Ministerial Task Team on Traffic Management in the FCT, Ikharo Attah, explained that trouble started when some officials of the environmental department of Bwari Area Council and the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), who were involved in the cleaning and removal of illegal structures and attachments in the market were attacked while on duty by some angry traders.
He disclosed that the office outlet of Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) in the area was not spared as the attackers set the office ablaze.
While noting that the government cannot fold its hands and watch some miscreants attack government officials and burn down government properties, he disclosed that the FCT Minister, Malam Muhammad Bello, in collaboration with the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, John Gabaya, have endorsed the immediate closure of the market until further notice.
“This morning, the chairman of Bwari Area Council sent environmental team to clean-up the market belonging to his area council. While the men from Bwari Area Council were doing their job, some people got so angry and attacked both the officials from the council, environmental officers as well as the police officers on duty.
“They went off board by burning the office outlet of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), but thanks to God, the staff escaped unhurt.
“With what has happened here, we declare that the market is hereby fully closed and the market will remain so closed until when the FCT minister and the Bwari Area Council chairman certify the market good for habitation as well as good for trading.
“25 persons who took part in the violence which resulted in the burning of the government office in the area have so far been arrested,” Attah revealed.
He also revealed that a fact -finding committee would be set up to unravel what led to the incidence as well as fashion out better ways to manage the two markets on the road corridor.
Also speaking, the Secretary of Bwari Area Council, Kadanya Peter, disclosed that some staff of the environmental department were actually injured during the violence, while others were seriously petted during the incident.
Peter explained that the cleaning exercise started last week following a visit to the market by the FCT minister, who expressed worry over the poor sanitary state of the market and ordered a clean-up exercise.
