We lost 14 members, N33m in two attacks – Bodija traders

BY OLA AJAYI
IBADAN–TRADERS in Bodija market, yesterday, counted their losses in
attacks by unknown gunmen which left 10 of their colleagues dead.
While speaking on the sad incident at Bodija Market, Public Relations
Officer of the market, Mr. Emiola Akeem, said they had lost a total
of 14 members and more than N33 million in the two attacks.
FOR SLAIN IBADAN TRADERS—Sympathisers and relations of 10 Bodija
Market traders killed at Mugunu in Borno State by members of Boko
Haram weep as their bodies were brought back to Ibadan, Tuesday.
Photos: Dare Fasube.
He said: "On May 5, this year, four of ourmembers were murdered in
cold blood and N11 million was stolen from them. This time again,
after killing them, they stole N22 million we contributed to buy beans
and fish."
Meantime, even as business activities resumed generally at the popular
market, the section for beans sellers was deserted with all the shops
lockedup. The traders who managed to come only gathered in clusters
discussing the sad incident.
One of the traders, Mrs. Bola Lawal, saidthe action was just to
sympathise with their dead colleagues.
She said: "We closed our shops just to mourn our dead colleagues. Look
at their shops there. They were very nice and hard-working young men.
See what these evil people have done now?"
Emiola said he had prevailed on some angry youths who wanted to attack
ourHausa colleagues, adding: "We cannot protest in Oyo State. The
state government did not do any evil to us. It would be unfair if we
now go to the secretariat to protest. It is not the stategovernment
that failed, it is the Federal Government."
According to him, his members would never go to the North again to buy
goods.He said the relatives of the slain traders in the first attack
were even fighting them asking why they allowed their people to travel
to Northwhen they knew the place was not safe.
Vanguardgathered that of the 10 men killed in te latest attack, only
nine corpses were brought as the 10th bodywas said to have been
dismembered through several machete cuts.
The image maker said a special prayer would be held in honour of the
deceased soon.