It was learnt that the trouble began when members of the Amotekun Corps attempted to implement a government order to relocate the traders from the Atikankan area. It was alleged that markets in the area had been turned into havens for criminals.
Four others including operatives of Amotekun Corps were injured during a clash with some traders in the Atikankan area of Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital in southwest Nigeria.
It was learnt that the trouble began when members of the Amotekun Corps attempted to implement a government order to relocate the traders from the Atikankan area. It was alleged that markets in the area had been turned into havens for criminals.
A video obtained by SaharaReporters shows as some residents were apprehensive while the traders burnt tyres on roads and restricted human and vehicular movements.
A source told The PUNCH that the leadership of Ado Local Government Area had engaged the services of Amotekun Corps to ensure the traders were moved off the roads in Oja’ba, Oja Bisi and Atikankan Market.
“Some traders at Atikankan resisted the attack, ambushed Amotekun Corps operatives and unleashed mayhem on the security agents with dangerous weapons,’ the source said.
The source added that weapons such as guns, cutlasses and daggers were used by the traders and that in the process, Amotekun operatives were injured and about three of their patrol vans were vandalised.
“These people in Atikankan area have been constituting serious nuisance and security threat to the state in the last few years with the kind of criminal activities happening on daily basis.
“This is a place where you go and see people hawking cannabis in broad daylight, used as criminal hideouts and selling and buying of stolen items, among other illicit activities. Government asked them to relocate to another place provided for them, but they were adamant and insisting they won’t leave the place.
“They said nobody can make them vacate the place, you can see the problem in our hands. The Amotekun people were there today (Thursday) to effect the directives of government on the relocation when they were attacked with dangerous weapons.
“They injured the operatives and destroyed their patrol vehicles. I heard one person died in the fracas but I can’t confirm that at the moment,” the source said.
The spokesperson for the state police command, Sunday Abutu, noted that four suspects had been arrested so far in connection with the incident.
According to Abutu, normalcy has been restored to the area.
He explained that the police commissioner, Dare Ogundare, had ordered a discreet investigation into the incident to ensure that the perpetrators were brought to justice.