Ekiti crisis: 50 shops, two houses burnt

No fewer than 50 shops and two residential buildings located within the Oja-Oba market in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti State capital, were burnt as the crisis between drivers and Hausa traders escalated on Friday.

The arson took place at about 2am in spite of the dusk to dawn curfew imposed by Governor Ayodele Fayose on Thursday.

Interestingly, the market, which is populated by people of different ethnic groups, predominantly Yoruba, is directly opposite the king’s palace.

As of press time, the police had yet to announce any arrest made in connection with the arson.

Traders cried uncontrollably on Friday, lamenting the loss of goods estimated to be worth several millions of Naira.

Security agencies had taken over the place on Wednesday to prevent the fight between the two groups from escalating.

Residents and workers living along Odo-Ado, Ajilosun-Ikere Road woke up to see thick smoke rising from the market.

Most schools in the city shut their gates to pupils while those that opened for the day before getting to know about the crisis had to hurriedly send pupils back home.

The panic message also got to banks and other commercial offices, which also shut their doors to customers.

Men of the state fire service had difficulty putting out the fire while major streets in the capital city were deserted as news of the crisis spread.

Truckloads 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.

The State Governor, Mr. Ayo Fayose, who personally led a security team that included the state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Etop James, to the scene, expressed worry at the turn of events.

Fayose ordered that four buses belonging to the state government be immediately mobilised to evacuate all Hausa residents (including women and children) in the city to an area called ‘Shasha’ along Ado-Ekiti/Ikere-Ekiti Road.

Many of the Hausa people that had been moved to the Mobile Police unit near the old Governor’s office were still being evacuated as of the time of filing this report.

Fayose said the Hausa community would be at the new location for the time being, and would be heavily guarded by security operatives.

The new CP told journalists in a separate interview that the police were on top of the situation, saying his men had been working tirelessly since the incident occurred.

The police boss warned trouble makers to steer clear of the state while law abiding residents should conduct their daily businesses without any fear. The crisis started in the night of Tuesday when a bag belonging to the wife of a chieftain of the transport workers’ union was snatched by unknown persons at Ijigbo-Old Garage area of the city.

It was learnt that the victim was allegedly raped by the assailants after dispossessing her of her belongings, a development that irked the drivers.

An eye witness said the victim’s husband reported the matter to members of the union after futile efforts to know the identities of the perpetrators.