Posted by By MARIAM ALESHINLOYE AGBOOLA, Jos on
Following the expiration of government deadline business activities were temporary paralysed in Jos, the capital of Plateau State Monday due to early morning clash between Jos main market traders and the officials of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) who had gone to stop them from displaying their wares within the vicinity of the burnt market.
Following the expiration of government deadline business activities were temporary paralysed in Jos, the capital of Plateau State Monday due to early morning clash between Jos main market traders and the officials of the Jos Metropolitan Development Board (JMDB) who had gone to stop them from displaying their wares within the vicinity of the burnt market.
The state government had earlier given traders in the areas two weeks notice to leave the vicinity to pave the way for the reconstruction of the market razed down by inferno in 2002
At the expiration of the notice on Monday, the officials of the JMDB along with some stern looking security men stormed the market area to effect the government order but were resisted, leading to open confrontation with the traders.
It was learnt that while the confrontation lasted, there was pandemonium in the market and some parts of Jos city as people seen were running for their lives. In the melee that ensued, many traders and officials of the JMDB sustained injuries.
Before reinforcement came, the traders overpowered the few security men and the JMDB officials and consequently set the police post situated at the entrance of the burnt market ablaze in protest against their eviction.
While the security men were attempting to restore normalcy, miscreants in some parts of Jos city took to the streets burning tyres to protest the police action. It took the police close to two hours before normalcy was restored.
Some of the affected traders blamed the state government for the fracas, saying the numbers of days given to them to move out were insufficient, adding that the place provided also was not conducive for business.
The traders claimed that some of their colleagues who had moved had their wares stolen by unknown persons due to inadequate security at the satellite market.
Some none indigenes had described government move to relocate them as a trap to get them molested by unknown persons, living in neighbouring villages and vowed not to move.
The state Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Dominic Iyornube who confirmed the fracas to Daily Sun said normalcy has returned to the affected places, adding that the police post at the entrance of the burnt market was set ablaze with all the property therein burnt down.
He stated that the mob who attacked the station were about 100 in number, adding the full scale investigation has commenced to unmask those behind the dastardly act.
Meanwhile, anti-riot policemen have been drafted to the site of the burnt Jos Main Market and the adjourning major roads to prevent any further confrontation with the officials of the JMDB demolishing the make shift stalls of those yet to vacate the vicinity.