Tension fear of possible reprisal attack mounted, yesterday, in Ibadan as the news of their death was broken to other traders in the market.
The market was eventually shut as a mark of respect for the departed souls. Heavy security presence was also noticed as security agents patrolled areas around the market to forestall any breakdown of law and order.
Street Journal gathered that the traders were in a 16-passenger bus which was stopped by the gunmen. A source disclosed that after they had been identified as Yoruba men, the attackers ordered them to lie face down and shot them. Incidentally, Northerners who travelled in the same bus were reportedly spared
The traders were about 2 kilometres from Dikua village when they were attacked.
“We heard there were 16 passengers in all including four Yorubas who were ordered to lie face down and shot to death. This is not the first time. That was how they killed three cattle dealers from here in the same area three days to the Eid-el-kabir festival last October. Many of us often contribute money so we could buy in bulk and then share, especially our elders who could no longer undertake such trips”, a trader to reporters in Bodija on Tuesday.
The belief in and around the market is that the attack was not a robbery. This was largely supported with the argument that they could easily have been robbed at gun point but in their own cases, the attackers killed them first and then stole the money they had on them. It was gathered that each of them had millions of Naira as they were going to buy wheat in bulk.
While the bodies of the victims are still being expected, things have already started returning to normal as a few traders took time to make sales in the evening.
Posted: at | |