Butchers Union In Ibadan Cause Trouble, Accuse Govt Of Harrassing Them

Ibrahim Idris, the Inspector-General of Police (File Photo)

Police Warn Butchers Who Stage Protest, Holding Parts Of Ibadan Ransom

The police have read the riot act to members of the Oyo state chapter of the National Butchers Union (NBU) who embarked on a violent protest against government’s relocation order leaving scores of people injured and causing hours of traffic gridlock in the city.

In a statement by police spokesman Adekunle Ajisebutu, a Superintendent of Police (SP), the command said while it recognised the group’s right to protest, such action should be within the ambit of the law of the land.

The statement said: “The police will not watch individuals or associations disrupt the peace currently being enjoyed in the state. Therefore, it will not hesitate to deal ruthlessly with anyone or association whose activities in whatever guise are capable of causing a breakdown of law and order in any part of the state.”

The butchers who were protesting allegedly use of soldiers, policemen and other security agents to destroy their property, intimidate and harass them at various abattoirs in Ibadan, the state capital.

The butchers joined by Veteran Organisation for Human Rights Initiative (VOHRI), on the heel of the demolition of abattoirs at Bodija, also accused the government of using soldiers and mobile policemen to intimidate and harass butchers at Gbagi, Bodija, Iwo Road and Babarere markets.

The butchers, who claimed that a purported direction to relocate butchers in Ibadan to Amosun Village did not come from Governor Abiola Ajimobi, said the order was the handiwork of some union leader leaders and members.

In the butchers words, “Some disgruntled elements who would always want to paint our listening governor in bad light disturbed the peace of butchers in Gbagi and Bodija markets on June 22 and destroyed our abattoir slabs at Bodija Market on June 23.

“The slaughter houses belonging to Alhaji Azeez Alagunfon and Biliaminu Eleshinmeta group were not affected by the police raid. This is a pointer to the lop-sidedness. The same drama occurred at Bodija, Iwo Road, Alarere and Babarere markets.

“The soldiers came with a motion ex-parte purported to have been sworn to at High Court II Registry on June 14 by Dr. (Mrs) Ibitoye Mofoluwake Moriyike of the Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the state secretariat in Ibadan and served on unknown persons as defendants, but definitely not the butchers in Ibadan.

“A motion ex-parte got on June 14, which was supposed to have elapsed on June 21 and served on unknown defendants was used to intimidate and harass butchers. We view this as impunity of the highest order. This case is already in court for mention on June 27 (today).”

Police Commissioner Abiodun Odude however  warned the aggrieved butchers against continued violence while the butchers urged Ajimobi to “wade into this imbroglio to prevent disharmony and allow peace to reign in the state”.