Yoruba Socio Cultural Group ‘Ominira Yoruba Apapo’ has called for the immediate stoppage  of Hausa traders from Bodija market in Ibadan pending the prosecution of killers of the 10 Yoruba traders from the market by suspected Boko Haram members.

Addressing a press conference at the Oyo NUJ Press centre in Ibadan, Chairman of the group, Comrade  Yinka Odumakin also urged the Inspector General of Police ,Mr Mohammed Abubakar to ensure that all those behind the killings of the Yoruba traders were  brought to book.

According to him, aside from arresting the killers and bringing them to book, the Hausa traders must be made to sign an undertaking not to further assault the sensibilities of their hosts to be able to resume business's activities at the Bodija market.

 

The group Chairman noted that the last Friday clash between Hausa and Yoruba traders at Bodija market during which five people were injured and millions of property destroyed was not acceptable to the Yorubas .     
Comrade  Odumakin  maintained that the bloody fight is an offshoot of the ‘economic Jihad’ purportedly launched  against the Yoruba traders on May 4 when four of their colleagues who went to buy a specie of beans (Oloyin) were murdered in Borno state.

He said, "Another set of 10 traders were killed on June 28 in the same state and over N40 million reportedly taken from them. The lazy approach of our crime investigation system quickly blamed the killing on the murderous Boko Haram without interrogating why beans traders and their money would be targets of Islamic sect’’.

The Yoruba group Chairman added that "all accounts of the killings did not suggest that the traders were caught in any bomb blasts or crossfire and this points to the fact that those who killed them must have trailed them to Borno to shift attention to Boko Haram.

Speaking further, he declared that ‘’the driver of the lorry in which the 10 traders were killed who is said to be an Hausa man was not killed raises a serious suspicion,’’ saying, "we are miffed that the Hausas traders could still muster the guts to engage their Yoruba hosts in bloody fight after killings of 14 of them in Borno State".

He said, "We know what could have happened in the North if the shoes were on other feet".

Comrade Odumakin however cautioned that the hospitality of the Yoruba and their gentle spirit should not be taken as a sign of stupidity, adding that the time has come for the authorities to take necessary steps before it is too late.

Comrade Odumakin pointed out that the group will soon meet the Oyo State governor, Senator Abiola ,the Chairman of Ibadan North; the Olubadan of Ibadan  and all the Royal fathers in Yoruba land to intimate them with the message.