Street hawkers – Govt agents clash, one feared dead as Ekiti Govt, declare war against street hawkers

Following bloody clash of angry traders who protested alleged ‘disturbance’ from task force officials of the Ekiti State Ministry of Works, on wednesday

in Ado Ekiti that led to vandalized offices of the ministry and attacked the office of the state Commissioner for Works, Mrs. Funmilayo Ogun, the State Government has vowed to arrest and prosecute any Street hawker using wheel-barrow around the popular Oja-Oba market, in Ado-Ekiti.

The development became necessary as a result of the Wednesday‘sclash between officials of  EKiti State Traffic Management Agency,(EKSTMA) and hawkers, which left of the one the hawkers unconscious and feared dead

It was reliably gathered that trouble started on wednesday morning when task officials of the ministry popularly called ‘Dagrin’ in the state capital had prevented street trading in the city by arresting and seizing wares of many who had displayed them on the streets.

Angered by the development, the traders, most of whom were alleged to be Ibo traders, decided to protest what they termed government’s officials’ “deliberate plan to rob them of profitting from the boom sales characteristic of the yuletide.”

They made bonfires on Oja-Oba market road and made for the office of the ministry of works on Ajilosun axis of Ikere Road in the state capital, and allegedly vandalized everything in sight, the windows, doors among others in the offices. They were said to have also clashed with some of the taskforce officials who allegedly wanted to prevent them from being violent.

It was also gathered that the state works commissioner narrowly escaped being lynched as it was evident the protesters wanted her head while fingering her as the brain behind alleged high-handedness of the officials..

Eye witnessed account, Mr Ben disclosed further that “EKSTMA officials were packing goods displayed along the roads this morning and when the owners were dragging it with them, one the hawkers was pushed by EKSTMA and in the process fell and became unconscious.” The victim has been rushed to the hospital,” Ben said.

Later, Governor Ayo Fayose, visited the scene in less than 15 minutes warned that his government would no longer give room for  illegality, adding that his Administration could not afford miscreants to temper with the current peace being enjoyed in the state.”Our government will not fold its hands and allow personal interests to put the state in coarse.

“As from today, Wednesday, Dec.,21 the use of wheel-barrow to hawk around the Oja-Oba market, in Ado-Ekiti is outlawed. Anybody or shop owner find with wheel-barrow, such shop will be closed down and  taken over by the government,” Fayose warned.

The Governor however deckared that , “any Street hawker with wheel-barrow should go to Awedele Market where government has designated for them. We need a peaceful environment in our their state, we can not allow the incessant clash between our officials carrying out their legitimate duties and hawkers to jeopardize our efforts at making life meaningful to the residents.”