The popular Shasha market in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has been shut indefinitely, following attacks by some hoodlums who descended on some scavengers within the market in the early hours of Friday.
It was reported that a number of iron scavengers were in the wee hours of Friday, attacked by suspected hoodlums at Shasha market, Ibadan, in Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The hoodlums, who were also said to be dealing in condemned iron, attacked their counterparts whose member allegedly defecated where they are keeping theirs.
A member of the iron scavengers was said to have went to answer the call of nature where the condemned iron dealers do keep their wares.
As he was sighted, members of the condemned iron dealers mobilised their peers and went on what they called revenge at about 1:00am on Friday.
A shop owner within the market, who preferred anonymity, told journalists that some other innocent individuals were also injured during the attack.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo State, Mr Shina Olukolu, has already visited the place alongside the Area Commander in charge of the area.
Public Relations Officer of the state police command, PPRO, Mr. Olugbenga Fadeyi, who confirmed the incident, added that normalcy has been returned to the area.
Fadeyi said, “What happened at Shasha was as a result of the activities of miscreants who were fighting each other
“The clash occurred because somebody went to defecate where they pack their wares and this led to the aggrieved mobilizing their colleagues to attack their perceived opponents.”
In order to ensure that peace is restored, the PPRO said, “The security personnel are there now. Operation Burst, Police are there and normalcy have been restore in the place”.
When asked when the market will be re-opened, the PPRO stated that the Area Commander will meet with the market leaders and agree on peace before the reopening of the market.
