The Oyo State government has ordered the immediate reopening of Bodija market.
The State Commissioner for Information, Culture, and Tourism, Toye Arulogun told journalists over the weekend that this decision was made after due consultations were made with security agencies and relevant stakeholders of the market.
Arulogun said that adequate security measures have been put in place by the government to forestall any crisis and urged people to go about their normal businesses.
The Oyo State Government had earlier shut down the Bodija market after a clash between police officers and butchers in the market on Thursday.
A police station was burnt during the clash with some persons feared killed.
Governor Abiola Ajimobi during a visit to the burnt police station said his administration would not tolerate hooliganism and thuggery. He assured that the perpetrators of the violence will not go unpunished and the state government will rehabilitate the police station.
The governor explained that the state government have not stopped butchers from selling meat at the Bodija market but ordered that there should be no more slaughtering of cows there due to the poor hygienic condition.
“The newly-constructed Central Abattoir at Amosun village which the butchers have been ordered to relocate to is an ultra-modern facility equipped with the state-of-the-art facility,” the governor added noting that the government will not hesitate to close the market for unhygienic and unsanitary conditions.
The Commissioner urged the people to go about their normal businesses, praying that God will comfort the families of the victims of mayhem and grant them the fortitude to bear the loss.
