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Akanbi Hassan
Nigeria’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo has condemned the ethnic clash at the popular Shasha Market, Ibadan, Oyo State capital, describing the tragic loss of lives in the mayhem as unfortunate.
Speaking on the clash when he paid a paid a condolence visit to the family of first call vilan governor of Lagos, Late Alhaji Lateef Jakande at Ilupeju area of Lagos, Osinbajo said that Shasha market has been a melting pot for traders bringing foodstuff from the North to the Southwest for decades.
The Vice President said:” I have heard about the unfortunate mayhem and the tragic loss of lives at the Shasha market in the past few days. Shasha market has been a melting pot for traders bringing foodstuff from the North to the Southwest for decades.
Prof Osinsibajo, who also described the market as a place of unity, said for decades traders from the North have done business with their brothers from the Southwest and they have lived in peace and even inter-married.
He added that when a disagreement arises between individuals or a criminal act is committed by one against the other people must ensure that the issue to s dealt with accordingly with tribal or other sentiments.
“For decades traders from the North have done business with their brothers from the Southwest and they have lived in peace and even inter-married. Shasha is a place of unity.
“So when a disagreement arises between individuals or a criminal act is committed by one against the other we must ensure that we see it for what it is, a criminal act, which must be punished according to law. Not an ethnic conflict.
While commend the state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde for his swift and decisive action and all the law enforcement agencies for their prompt interventions,the VP insisted that every Nigerian has a constitutional right to live, work and enjoy their lives in safety, peace under the law.
“It is the duty of government through the police and other law enforcement agencies to arrest and prosecute any person who commits a crime against a citizen of this nation. It is the role of the citizen to assist the police to identify the criminals. We must never take the law into our own hands, if we do we will be promoting chaos, and a breakdown of law and order, and all of us especially the most vulnerable amongst us, will be at risk. I urge all community leaders to work together to preserve the brotherly co-existence that our people from different parts of the country have enjoyed in Shasha market for several decades.”
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