THERE was pandemonium at the Bodija market in Ibadan on Friday as Yoruba and Hausa traders clashed, resulting in the destruction of goods worth millions of naira.
No one could say categorically what triggered the clash, except what many of the traders regarded it as a built-up anger over the downturn in their economy since the killing of 14 Yoruba traders in Borno State on May 4 and June 28 this year, where they had gone to buy beans.
Since the killing of their colleagues (the second incident) on June 28, Yoruba traders have stopped travelling to the north-eastern state, where the specie of beans (Oloyin) loved by people in the South-West is usually found at cheaper price.
However, Hausa traders in Bodija market were said to have been receiving regular supply of the commodity from their kinsmen and had been selling same at exorbitant prices to traders willing to buy and re-sell.
This had resulted in a hike in the price of beans, which has risen to N550 per measure, against N280 for which it was sold before the Borno killing of the traders.
Pent up anger, however, boiled over on Friday afternoon while Muslim faithful were observing Jumaat in mosques, leading to the disruption of the peace of the entire market.
Different weapons like sticks, stones and iron rods were freely used, with the Yoruba traders chanting that they would no longer keep quiet over the agenda of the Hausa to take over commerce in the market.
One of the traders, Saidi Baoku, who spoke with Saturday Tribune, alleged that the Hausa traders in the market were trying to take food off their tables by killing their business.
He further insinuated that the killing of the traders in the market was masterminded by the Hausa traders to pave way for their control of the market, as the Yoruba traders would no longer be able to go to the North to buy foodstuffs.
Nigerian Tribune.
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