The Federal Capital Territory Administration on Tuesday shut Dutse Ultramodern Market and Oloye Olajumoke Shopping Complex in Dutse, Abuja.
The shutdown followed an attack on workers of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board in Dutse, Abuja by hoodlums before they set their office on fire.
Tension rose as the hoodlums attacked the workers in protest of the demolition of illegal structures in the two markets.
The demolition was carried out to allow for a free flow of traffic and proper environmental sanitisation of the market. It took the timely intervention of a combined team of police and army before normalcy was restored in the place.
It was learnt that 25 persons had been arrested by the police in connection with the attack.
The chairman of the Ministerial Task Team on Traffic Management in FCT, Ikharo Abuja, while inspecting the closed markets described the attack on government officials as appalling and sad.
He revealed that based on the attack, the Minister of FCT, Muhammadu Bello, in consultation with the Chairman of Bwari Area Council, John Gabaya, had ordered the immediate closure of the two markets.
He said, “The officials were clearing the market when some people got angry and attacked the policemen and workers on duty. Thank God the workers escaped safely.
“The markets will remain closed until the minister and the chairman has certified the market fit for both trading and habitation.”
Attah confirmed that 25 persons had been arrested by the police.
The secretary of Bwari Area Council, Kadanya Peters, said the hoodlums blocked the road and disturbed vehicular movement and set up bonfire.
Peters said the agitation started on Monday when aggrieved persons at the market started pelting officials with stones.
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