Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has on Sunday, condemned the violence that led to the loss of lives at the Shasha Market, in Oyo State, Page 36 learnt.
The Vice President, therefore, called for peace between the Northern Traders and the South-West Traders.
He made the appeal while addressing Journalists, after he paid a condolence visit to the family of late Chief Lateef Jakande, in Lagos State, describing the incident as unfortunate and tragic.
Vice President Osinbajo said that the market has been a melting pot for the Traders bringing foodstuff from the North to the South-West for decades, and they have lived in peace, and even inter-married.
He stated that he believes that when a disagreement arises between individuals, or a criminal act is committed by one against the other, Nigerians must ensure that they see it for what it is (a criminal act), which must be punished according to the law, and not as an ethnic conflict.
The Vice President also stated that every Nigerian has a constitutional right to live, work, and enjoy their lives in safety and peace under the law.
He therefore, maintained that it is the duty of the government through the Police and other Law Enforcement Agencies, to arrest and prosecute any person who commits a crime against a citizen, and it is also the role of the citizen to assist the Police to identify the criminals.
Vice President Osinbajo said: “We must never take the law into our own hands, if we do we will be promoting chaos, and a breakdown of law and order, and all of us especially the most vulnerable amongst us, will be at risk.
I urge all Community Leaders to work together to preserve the brotherly co-existence that our people from different parts of the country have enjoyed in Shasha market for several decades.”
Credit: PressExpress