The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Mohammad Bello has ordered the closure of Dei – Dei International Market indefinitely.
The order came following the clash that occurred between commercial motorcyclists and traders that claimed five lives in Dei- Dei on Wednesday.
The Minister gave the order after inspecting the scene of the incident with the FCT Commissioner of Police Sunday Babaji, Director of State Security Services with other sister security agencies, and top officials of the FCT Administration.
Trouble started in the market when a female trader yet to be identified fell off a commercial motorcycle and was crushed to death by an articulated vehicle.
Malam Bello directed the community and the market leaders to fish out the hoodlums responsible for the crisis.
He said: “The community and market leaders must fish out hoodlums and bad eggs among them, unfortunately, this time around hoodlums carry arms and they shot innocent people. As a matter of fact, I saw four corpses, this is very sad and totally unequivocally unacceptable in Abuja…because all the leaders of various communities have lived here in peace for many years”.
The FCT Minister assured that security agencies would carry out full-scale investigations of the matter, and appeal to other communities within the FCT to maintain calm, as there was no tribal or religious misunderstanding in FCT
On his part, the Vice Chairman of Timber market in Dei-Dei, Mr. Ifeanyi Chibata who told the FCT Minister and his team that about 45 to 50 shops were burnt with 25 vehicles set ablaze, said the loss would amount to billions of naira.
The Secretary, Tomatoes, and Onions Sellers Association Dei-Dei, Dahiru Garba Mani disclosed that four persons were killed during the clash in the market.
The Marketers called for the provision of a police division with adequate personnel in the Market.
RN