Shasa market crisis: Traders express displeasure over release of suspects

Following the release of seven suspects arrested by the police in connection with the crisis that erupted in Shasa market, Akinyele Local Government Area of Oyo State, some affected traders have expressed dissatisfaction over the release while others call for more investigation into the matter.

Some of the traders asked the police to provide the first suspect who killed a shoemaker, which led to the destruction of lives and properties.

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The chairman of Sasa Market Traders Association, Alhaji Usman Idris Yako, told Daily Trust that the Hausa Community was not happy with the released of the suspects.

He said: “We thought the suspects are going to face the wrath of the law to prevent future occurrences, but they are not.

“We are not surprised about the outcome, that is why we did not go back to Shasa market.  We are now doing our businesses in our new base in Akinyele.

“Most of the assistance giving by the government and well-wishers is not enough.”

He further said support was rendered through Sarkin Sasa who has no business in Shasa market.

“The Sarkin Sasa who has no business in Sasa collected many of the palliatives.

“He didn’t give us anything. We are the real victims but here we are. We have decided not to go back to Sasa for our own safety,” he said.

However, Chief Popoola Rasheed, Babaloja of Sasa market, said” “I cannot pray for them to be jailed since the police and superior authority have said they have no case to answer.”

A trader in the market, Mrs Rebecca Akinjide, said those arrested were not the real suspects.

“If the police truly want to do their job, they should look for the boy that killed that shoemaker.

“Those people arrested are all Yoruba, who are mere residents of Sasa. Those who killed the man should be arrested. Ninety per cent of the properties destroyed were owned by the Yoruba people.

“Do you think they can be foolish to burn their own properties? The seven people we are talking about were arrested by soldiers who were protecting the Hausa people. We know the politics,” he said.

The police public relations officer Olugbenga Fadeyi said the police acted on the advice of the Director of Public Prosecution.

“Soldiers arrested the seven people and handed them over to the police. We told you that they were released based on the advice of the DPP,” the police spokesman said.