BUTCHERS of Bodija abattoir, Ibadan, Oyo State, on Tuesday, protested last weekend’s demolition of their abattoir by the state government.
It would be recalled that the state government had given butchers in Ibadan a June 11 deadline to leave for the central abattoir at Amosun village, Akinyele local government area of the state, with some butchers expressing reservations about the directive.
Some of the reservations of the butchers had included poor accessibility to the new location for meat buyers and sellers, loss of working capital, tendency for incessant clash between butchers and Hausa Cattle sellers, unemployment explosion, cases of armed robbery on the proposed route.
Tuesday’s protest at State Secretariat, Ibadan, saw the butchers convey their reservations displaying placards with various inscriptions such as ‘Save us people of Ibadan’, ‘APC, butchers voted you into power, don’t let us vote your party out’, ‘APC leadership, act and save your party.’
One of the protesters, who spoke on behalf of others, Mr Tunji Jigan decried the demolition of the abattoir, urging the state government to bear in mind the reservations they had hitherto expressed.
Jigan added that they had filed a case in this regard, urging the government to stay action on asking them to relocate pending the determination of the case.
The butchers had initially rebuffed appeals from security personnel and government officials to have their representatives meet with government representatives behind closed doors but were later addressed by the state Deputy Governor, Mr Moses Adeyemo.
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Speaking, Adeyemo called for calm assuring them that a meeting between Governor Abiola Ajimobi and the butchers’ representatives was being initiated.
He avowed assurance that the issue will be resolved amicably.
Similarly, Executive Secretary, Oyo State Bureau of Investment Promotions and Public Private Partnership, Mr. Yinka Fatoki had allayed the fears of butchers assuring that adequate security and transportation systems were in place for sustaining peace in Amosun area as well as facilitating ease of doing business.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Police command has warned the protesting butchers against disrupting peace and order in the state.
Writing on behalf of the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude, Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Adekunle Ajisebutu said the police will not hesitate to deal with groups or organisations embarking on actions capable of causing breakdown of law and order in the state.
The police’s warning is sequel to a June 4 meeting among the associations of butchers, government representatives, and the state Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Odude at state Police Force Headquarters, Eleyele, on Monday.
At the meeting, Odude had similarly urged the butchers to eschew violence, and rather renegotiate with the government with a view to resolving the issue.