By Balogun Mabamije
UGHELLI/Nigeria: The Ughelli Spare Parts Market that was recently sealed by the Chairman of Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta State owing to alleged unruly behaviour by some of the traders at the market has been reopened.
The Chairman, Chief Godwin Adode, who disclosed this to newsmen after a meeting with officials of the market at his office said that his actions were prompted by the unruly behaviour of some of the traders which he considered to be of security threat and a breach of peace in the area.
Adode explained that when he got wind of the impending crisis between revenue collectors and the spare parts dealers, he went there with the purpose of ensuring that peace reigned, adding that he was attacked and booed by some of the dealers.
He said it took efforts of his security details to rescue him from the scene.
He said that serious harm and injuries were inflicted on some of the revenue collectors, while at the same time blocking the Ughelli-Port-Harcourt Express Way with the aim of causing upheaval in the area.
He added that his actions would serve as a deterrent to future occurrence, just as he warned that anyone found to be involved in such criminal activities would be prosecuted.
Reacting to the incident, the chairman of the spare parts dealers, Chief Basil Obi, described the incident as unfortunate, but expressed joy that the issues affecting the market had been resolved amicably.
While thanking Chief Adode and all who played the role in resolving the crisis, Chief Obi said the crisis caused them great financial losses as they had to cough out money to pay for the hospital bills of those injured and the fine placed on them by the local government chairman.
Speaking on the modalities taken to stem future occurrences, the chairman disclosed that they had agreed that every trader in the market would register with the council with a passport photograph, adding that anyone found to be involved in unruly behaviour would be appropriately dealt with.
According to him, the crisis erupted from the daily revenue placed on mechanics operating in the market which some considered inappropriate.
He warned traders in the market to show good example and be law abiding, just as he thanked God that no life was lost to the incident.
