Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago of Niger state has issued an Executive Order prohibiting the mopping up and buying of food stuffs in mass quantities in local markets in the state.
The governor stated this in a press briefing on Monday at Government House, Minna.
He said the activities of the syndicate which specialised in mopping up food items in the markets was responsible for the breach of peace in Minna on Monday morning after inciting some youths and women that trucks meant for the city were being diverted to other places outside the state.
Bago said, however, the proactive intervention of security operatives prevented the looting of the trucks as planned by the syndicate as the trucks took another route.
“The syndicate of food speculators are also involved in mopping up chickens, local fowls and goats. This is causing astronomical hike in food items in our local markets,” he said.
He said the order has empowered traditional rulers and local government councils prevent such brisk businesses and prosecute offenders, adding that calm has returned to the city.
However, the police have said it used “minimum force” to disperse the scores of protesters who blocked the Minna – Bida road on Monday morning thereby obstructing vehicular and human movements.
Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Wasiu Abiodun said, “We have to use minimum force to disperse the protesters when all efforts to convince them to vacate the road failed.”