ABUJA- BARELY twenty- four hours after the closure of the popular Wuse Market in Abuja following a clash between protesters demanding that President Muhammadu Buhari should resume or resign and supporters of the President, the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA, Malam Muhammad Musa Bello yesterday re-opened the market for normal businesses to continue.
The FCT administration has however warned that it would no longer tolerate situations where protesters in the nation’s capital city use the markets or unauthorized places, stressing that anyone found to have violated the order would be made to face the full wrath of the law.
In a statement Wednesday by the Chief Press’s Secretary to the FCTA Minister, Cosmas Uzodinma, the FCTA said that there were no lives lost during the fracas between Our Mumu Don Do Movement”, the youth group demanding for the immediate return of President Muhammed Buhari to the country and led by Charles Oputa( Charley Boy), and another one that is loyal to the President which allegedly attacked him.
The statement read, “The attention of the Federal Capital Territory Administration has been drawn to reports and misrepresentations on the recent clash between anti-Buhari protesters led by Charle y Boy Oputa and a segment of traders in the Wuse Market of Abuja.
“It is noteworthy that this incident has spun a lot of versions and false figures of purported casualties. Indeed our findings which were confirmed by the various security agencies clearly indicate otherwise.
“For the avoidance of doubt, therefore, the FCT Administration hereby states that there was NO LIFE LOST due mainly to the timely intervention of the Security and the Market Management agencies.
“The FCT Administration wishes to convey its appreciation to various agencies and organizations whose timely intervention stemmed the situation from degenerating into a major crisis.
“The Administration notes that the market has since been re-opened to the general public and that normal activities have resumed.
“We reiterate the Administration’s commitment to the protection of freedom of expression and lawful assembly, but caution that this must be done within the ambits of law and civilized conduct.
“Consequently, the FCT Administration warns that staging political protests in markets and other unauthorised areas would not be tolerated and any person or group involved in this act would be apprehended and prosecuted in accordance with the law.
“We urge all the law abiding residents of Abuja to go about their business without fear of any molestations as the FCT security agencies are geared to ensure the security of lives and property in the Territory.”
It would be recalled that leader of “Our Mumu Don Do Movement”, the youth group demanding for the immediate return of President Muhammed Buhari to the country, Charles Oputa( Charley Boy) on Tuesday escaped death by whiskers following a clash between his group and another one that is loyal to the President which allegedly attacked him.
The attack came when the controversial musician led his group on his “Resume or Resign” protest, this time, at the Wuse Market Abuja.
The Return or Resign protest however took another dimension yesterday, when some pro-Buhari Hausas attacked him at Wuse market leading to total close down of the market.
Following the development, the FCTA through the Abuja Market Management Limited has shut down the market to forestall colossal damage
