Slain traders: Assembly asks oyo to petition FG

 

The Oyo State House of Assembly on Thursday directed the state government to send a protest letter to the Federal Government on the murder of 10 traders from Bodija Market, Ibadan, by suspected Boko Haram members in Borno State last Friday.

The House also called for adequate compensation for families of the slain traders by the Federal Government.

The traders were waylaid and killed by Boko Haram members in Mogunu, Borno State, last Friday while on business trip.

The House unanimously passed the motion on the murder as moved by the lawmaker representing Egbeda constituency in the House of Assembly, Ibrahim Bolomope.

Bolomope lamented the general insecurity in the country.

“It is no longer safe to travel to other parts of the country because of the general insecurity,” he said, urging the Federal Government to make the grains reserves at Kolapo Ishola area of Ibadan functional for the traders to purchase their products locally rather than travelling to the North.

Member of the House, representing Oorelope constituency, Yisau Azeez, said, “We cannot fold our arms and see our people getting murdered like chicken. We are Nigerians; we should be free to go to any part of the country to do business.”

Following a voice vote directed by the Speaker, Alhaja Monsurat Sumonmu, the House directed the Executive to petition the Federal Government on the incidence and ask for adequate compensation for families of the victims.

“We are asking the executive to write a letter of protest to the Federal Government in the light of the murder of the victims of the attack in the north. We also want the Federal Government to give adequate compensation to families of those who were murdered,” the Speaker said.

In separate statements, the Senator representing Oyo South Senatorial District, Olufemi Lanlehin; and the representative of Ibadan North Federal Constituency at the National Assembly, Abiodun Awoleye, condemned the killing of the traders.

Lanlehin’s statement read in part, “Every right thinking person would mince no word in condemning this dastardly act of wanton killing of innocent patriots.

“Four of their colleagues had lost their lives in similar circumstance few weeks back while pursuing their lawful business activities.

“The pertinent questions here are why the gruesome killing of fellow human beings without any provocation? Who takes the blame for such wanton and unjustifiable killings?”

Awoleye’s read, “I received the news of death of the traders with great shock. This is not only unfortunate but very sad. The killing and other killings across the country is as a result of the fallout of bad governance and lack of proper security measures”.

Meanwhile, the Peoples Democratic Party in Oyo State on Thursday commiserated with families of the  slain traders as well as their colleagues at the Bodija Market.

In a statement by the party’s Public Relations Officer, Kehinde Salawu, the party read, “The Boko Haram debacle is taking a new dimension with the sect targeting innocent people from Oyo State. This development is saddening and capable of undermining the spirit of oneness known to the country.”