Market Traders clash with Polices
Nnabuchi Okey Nnabuchi, Correspondent Abuja
Fight broke out at the Garki main Market in Abuja. Police Authorities say lack of obedience to Environmental Laws by Traders there caused the fight.
It was an unfortunate morning for these Traders. They came to Market this morning and found their shops tampered with allegedly by the Abuja Market Management and Abuja Environmental Agency for not keeping their Market clean in line the guidelines set by the authorities in charge of the market. This lured them into unplanned demonstration that led to wanton destruction of Goods and closure of the Garki Modern Market on Wednesday 1st Sept.2010.
The position of the Market Managers was however in sharp contrast with theirs. The officials say the traders particularly Butchers were not obeying the rules set by govt. to guide activities of the market. They accused the butchers of ignoring orders relocation orders as well as nonpayment of dues to the authorities.
District police Officer in charge of Garki Tony Olofu corroborated position of the market managers and disclosed that the traders were chased out for security reason. Insisting that no one was shot as claimed by the traders, police officer said normal business will return to the market immediately there is calm as the police do not have powers to close the market.
Like Nigerians they are, the traders have resorted to an emergency trading at the Garki express-way pending reopening of the market and this no doubt will cause a lot of traffic on that route. Those in Authority should expedite to ensure return of normalcy in the market.
