The Babaloja (Market Leader) of Bodija Foodstuff Market, Alhaji Ismail Aderemi, says the market was shut on Wednesday night to forestall destruction of lives and property during the nationwide protest, if hijacked by hoodlums.
Aderemi, who is also a factional Babaloja of Oyo State, told NAN on Thursday in Ibadan, said that market was also shut to protect the lives and goods of the traders.
“We gave the order on Wednesday night that the market be shut ahead of the Thursday nationwide protest. We had an agreement with the police to help parade the market for security and safety,” he said.
On the need for reduction of prices of foodstuffs to cushion the effect of inflation, Aderemi said no trader was told hike price of goods.
“If we try it at Bodija, can we also do same in other markets in Ibadan. Market men and women too are buying things like every other Nigerian. What we buy is what we sell.
“The money we used to use in buying 10 trailer-loads of rice is what we are now using to buy one trailer,” he said.
Aderemi advised traders to work with government to bring down prices of foodstuffs, adding that they should not try to make excessive profits at the expense of the buyers.