A tense standoff ensued at Yankalli Market in Plateau State as security forces, including soldiers, police, and NSCDC operatives, repelled a brazen attempt by hoodlums to plunder essential commodities.
Arriving under the cover of darkness around 8:00 pm on Friday, the marauding gang, comprising both men and women, met their match in a prepared security detail deployed to forestall such incursions.
Chairman of a traders’ association, Alhaji Jamilu Kabiru, recounted the incident, revealing their preemptive actions in alerting security agencies to the looming threat.
Daily Trust quoted Kabiru as saying, “We had heard on Thursday that hoodlums from Gangare, Rikkos and other places would attack the market to loot food items on the ground that we sell the commodities at high price. We didn’t take the rumor for granted and quickly reported the case to the security agencies that swiftly intervened. We had to sleep with our eyes open in the market to keep vigilance with the security.”
The timely intervention prevented chaos and potential loss of livelihoods, as traders remained vigilant throughout the night in collaboration with security personnel.
Emphasizing the market’s role as a hub for essential commodities, Kabiru refuted claims of price gouging, attributing inflation to external factors beyond their control.
“We are not the cause of inflation. The rise in price is not because of us. Our goods are always bought from companies. The increase is always from the companies. In addition that, when you buy commodities from Lagos, you have to hire a truck for a price of over two million naira. What you spend on transporting the commodities to your destination, you divide the expenditure by the number of commodities, and that’s how the price is increasing,” Kabiru urged, highlighting the market’s competitive nature and shared struggle.
Echoing Kabiru’s sentiments, DSP Alabo Alfred, spokesperson for the state police command, confirmed the successful operation, underscoring the collaborative effort that thwarted the illicit incursion.
