Funmi Olaitan, Ibadan

Scores of butchers under the umbrella of National Butchers Union (NBU) from the 11 local government areas in Ibadanland, on Sunday, sent save our souls message to Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State, to as a matter of urgency prevail on some elements using soldiers, policemen and other security agents to destroy their property, intimidate and harass butchers across the various abattoirs in Ibadan, the state capital.

The butchers made the plea while addressing journalists in conjunction with a non governmental organisation, Veteran Organization for Human Rights Initiative (VOHRI), on the heal of demolition and pulling down of abattoirs in Bodija market, intimidation and harassment of butchers in Gbagi, Iwo Road and Babarere markets, supervised by over 50 heavily armed soldiers and mobile policemen in the early hours of Sunday.

According to them, a purported relocation order given to all butchers in Ibadanland to relocate to Amosun Village was a verbal order which does not emanated from Mr Ajimobi, stating that such order was handiwork of some elements within the union led by Mr Azeez Alagunfon, Mr Biliaminu Eleshinmeta, Mr Kehinde Tewogbade, Mr Fatai Alagunfon and Mr Lateef Olagoke, and others for their own selfish interests.

Chairman of the union in Egbeda local government, Mr Mukaila Oladejo Otedola and his colleagues, Mr. Adebayo Wasiu from Gege market in Ibadan South West local government; Mr Rafiu Oladepo from Adegbayi market in Egbeda local government; Mr Wasiu Adebayo from New Gbagi market and Financial Secretary of NBU in the state, Mr Kabiru Alao, said it was disheartening to note that despite the fact that butchers in Ibadanland had rejected the relocation move, some disgruntled elements collided to use soldiers, armed mobile policemen and other security agents to demolish slaughter slabs at Bodija market on Sunday, invade Gbagi market and other slaughter slabs at Iwo Road and Babarere by coercing butchers to leave their various locations.

They said, "Some disgruntled elements who would always want to paint our listening Governor in different colors went ahead to disturb the peace of butchers in Gbagi and Bodija markets.

"The slaughter houses belonging to Mr Azeez Alagunfon and Mr Biliaminu Eleshinmeta group were not affected by the police raid. This is a pointer to lopsidedness. The same drama occurred at Bodija, Iwo Road Alarere and Babarere markets.

"The soldiers came with a motion ex-partre purported to have been sworn to at High Court 2 registry on the 14th June 2018 by one Mrs Ibitoye Mofoluwake Moriyike, of Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Secretariat Ibadan, and served on unknown persons as defendants and definitely not butchers in Ibadanland.

"A motion ex-partre got on 14th June 2018 which was supposed to have elapsed on the 21st June 2018 and served on unknown defendants was used to intimidate and harass butchers. We view this as impunity of the highest order. This case is already in court for mentioning on 27th June 2018.

The butchers then appealed to Ajimobi not to waste more time but wade into the imbroglio to prevent disharmony and allow peace to reign in the state, charging the governor to prevail on those using the apparatus of the state government illegally to unleash unrest and fear in people.

Lead activists of VOHRI, Mr Sakirullahi Ayobami and General Secretary, Mr Adekunle Abimbola, while condemning the destruction and demolition of the butchers property on Sunday and their intimidation and harassment of butchers, said it was unfortunate that some elements among the butchers are using security agents to harass their colleagues.

They however sympathised with the butchers, vowing that they would not rest until they get justice for the intimidated and oppressed butchers.

"VOHRI demands nothing but justice. Enough of harassment, intimidation, breach of fundamental human rights and serious threat to life.

"Many of these butchers asked to relocate have legitimate slaughter slabs that have been duly registered and approved by Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and the Oyo State Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

"The popular axiom states that justice delayed is justice denied. Let justice prevail, we beg the government", they said.