Protest, looting trail Gosa market demolition
The popolar and busy Airport Road in Abuja was on Saturday evening shut down for more than four hours by angry youths protesting the demolition of the area around Gosa Market. The violent youths, including women, barred hundreds of vehicles from accessing the major highway with woods, tyres and stones. The protesters said the obstruction […]
The popolar and busy Airport Road in Abuja was on Saturday evening shut down for more than four hours by angry youths protesting the demolition of the area around Gosa Market.
The violent youths, including women, barred hundreds of vehicles from accessing the major highway with woods, tyres and stones.
The protesters said the obstruction of the entire dual carriageway was to register their grievance for the demolition of the popular market by the FCT authorities.
The Airport Road is a major gateway to and from the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Lugbe, Giri, Gwagwalada and the central parts of Abuja.
Hundreds of motorists plying the road could not use the highway for hours while policemen and soldiers who were trapped in the demonstration watched them.
In the ensuing commotion, some of the youths looted valuables of commuters and traders.
One of the traders affected by the demolition, Mrs. Ladi Danladi, told our reporter that there was no notice about the demolition.
“Before I could get here all the goods in my shop were gone. We want them to leave our market for us, or else they should come and kill us,” Mrs. Danladi said.
“I am going to prison now because of this demolition because I borrowed some money from the bank to set up my business. I sell maize in bags,” she added.
Another affected trader, Endurance Williams, explained in vernacular that no notice was given to the market community before the sudden demolition.
“Where are we going to sell our things now?” she asked?
Justifying the action of the youths, Williams said, “We blocked the road because tomorrow we won’t have anything to eat.”
It was later gathered that military reinforcement to the scene in the evening doused the tension.
When contacted on the matter, the Coordinator, Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), Umar Shuaibu, told Daily Trust that his team actually went to the Gosa Friday Market on Saturday to evacuate the traders selling on the road, a situation which he said was resulting to heavy traffic.
Shuaibu said the actual market was supposed to be 500 metres away from the main road, but that traders had took over the roadsides thereby causing heavy traffic.
“We didn’t pull down any stall inside the market, but those that are serving as obstruction on the main road,” Shuaibu said.
“That road is supposed to be a very important road not only to FCT but the country as a whole as important visitors from all over the world ply that road whenever they are in the country,” he said.
He added that, “We have to make a good impression about our country’s image by keeping that road always free from traffic and all other obstructions.”