Oyo State govt shuts Bodija market as police, butchers clash over relocation order
The Oyo State government has shut down Bodija market after butchers and police clashed earlier today in Ibadan.
The clash occurred as a result of the butchers’ grievance over relocation orders from the state government.
The state government had directed that the butchers should relocate to a new abattoir outside the town but the butchers did not agree with the directive.
Some of the butchers had accused their leaders of taking bribe from the government to support the order.
There are reports of gunshots and burning of tires on the road by protesters.
The state government said in a tweet Thursday afternoon that the chairman of Aare Laatosa Local Council Development Area, Adekunle Oladeji, said the closure was to prevent the loss of lives and property.
“It is also to guard against the escalation of violence in the market to other parts of the state,” it stated.
