Tension mounted in the popular New Bodija market yesterday as the traders protested the killing of four of their colleagues allegedly by Boko Haram insurgents in Maiduguri, Borno State on Sunday. The foursome simply identified as Nihas, Fatai a.k.a Coach, Alaba and Amodu had travelled to the Borno State capital to buy millet products, when they were reportedly attacked and shot dead by gunmen two kilometres to Dikua village, their destination in the outskirts of the Borno State capital.

Although, none of the officials of the traders’ association was around when Daily Sun visited the market which was officially shut to the public in protest and to mourn the slain traders described as responsible young men, dependable sources within the market said the gunmen ambushed the commercial bus in which they were travelling and ordered it to stop.

They started sorting the passengers according to their ethnic background. “We heard they were 16 passengers in all. They were the four Yorubas among them. They were ordered to lie face down and shot dead,” a market leader, who craved anonymity, told Daily Sun. Their assailants reportedly made away with millions of naira with which the traders planned to buy their goods. Another leader in the market, Mrs. Olaide Ibrahim, however, said Amodu was only feared dead as only the bodies of his other three mates were found, while he was declared missing.

Another account said Amodu, who disappeared into the bush when he was shot escaped and was the one who telephoned the executive of the market to intimate them of their ordeal. News of the traders’ slaughter was broken to leaders of the market by their Yoruba kinsmen, who they normally stayed with when on such business trip to the North on Sunday.

“It was too late to order traders not to open their shops, hence the decision to shift it till yesterday,” a source hinted. But fearing reprisal and possible clash between mourning Yoruba traders and their Hausa counterparts in the market, the police quickly drafted armed policemen to keep the peace. Two patrol vans and a contingent of stern-looking policemen with Ak-47 rifles were seen stationed at strategic locations in the market when Daily Sun visited yesterday afternoon.

Oyo State police spokesperson, Olabisi Clet-Ilobanafor said police took the action as a proactive measure to prevent people taking law into their hands. “You know we had that the deceased’s bodies would be brought into town yesterday and we felt emotions would run high. And people may want to take revenge so we have to be on the alert.” Stalls and shops were under lock in various sections of the market with solitary traders seen discussing the tragedy in groups. While many shoppers turned back in disappointment due to the lull in commercial activities.

However, skeletal trading resumed at about 5pm when some traders dealing mostly in food items, beef and ingredients displayed their wares in front of the shops and make shift structures. The traders condemned the killings which they said had become one too many. “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 in October last year. They can’t be killing us and make our business trip no longer safe.”

Many of us often contribute money to this our representative so we can buy in bulk and then share, especially, our elders who could no longer undertake such trips,” said one trader. On whether the assailants could not have been robbers. The traders insisted that, “they were not robbers because if they were, they would have first robbed them of their belongings and money before killing them. But in this case, we heard they first killed them. In any case this was not the first time.” One of the dead victims, Nihas is said to be from Ikire with a widowed mother, while Fatai, a native of Ilorin is said to have a pregnant wife.

The late Alaba, a native of Ibadan is said to have just have a baby delivered by his wife. The corpses of two of the victims and a wounded one had been taken to the Maiduguri General Hospital where the latter later died and were deposited in the morgue. Their relations and colleagues were expecting the bodies in Ibadan yesterday. They were said to have reached Lokoja as at press time.



http://sunnewsonline.com/new/cover/boko-haram-kills-four-yoruba-produce-buyers-in-borno/

R.I.P where is human right again

Chino24 it'll be appreciated if you spelt Yoruba correctly.

On the topic, do we still give amnesty to BH?

This is pathetic, may their soul rest in peace.

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When you keep the wolf and the ship in the same room, what do you expect?

Islam in the North will surely destroy Nigeria.

I thought a poster boasted some days ago that only Igbos are being killed
May their souls RIP
Non Bornu folks should leave Bornu
How else will people say this
We are in this together
Bombs and bullets don't discriminate

Why delete my comment?

noblezone: When you keep the wolf and the ship in the same room, what do you expect?

A wolf that'll think its a sailor and try to sail the Ship to the Caribbean?

Final answer!

Lots of hidden posts.just wondering what went down there. r.i.p brothers,God knows best.

RIP

This murderous campaign will end when we demand it.