A combined task force team comprising Kwara State Environmental Protection Agency (KWEPA), Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), the state’s Road Traffic Maintenance Agency (KWARTMA) and vigilantes, yesterday, dislodged some 400 traders over alleged environmental infractions.

The traders were allegedly constituting a nuisance at the Post Office area of Ilorin, Kwara State metropolis.

The Guardian learnt that the team arrived in the area at about 1:00 a.m. to cart away the traders’ tables and benches.

According to a source, the operation also extended to the clearing of walkways, hitherto occupied by the traders.

It was gathered that security men also beat up recalcitrant traders.

Confirming the development, the deputy chairman of the traders’ association, Musa Lukman, said the Commissioner for Environment, Shehu Ndanusa, once held meetings with the leadership of the association and promised to relocate them to a better place, as the state wanted to beautify the area.

“There is ongoing talk with the state, through the commissioner, who promised to relocate us to an area at Taiwo Oke. The truth is that we were taken aback to see them today at about 1:00 a.m. packing our chairs, tables and benches away in their vehicles,” he said.

Noting that the current economic hardship may tempt the displaced traders into taking unpleasant decisions, he pleaded with Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq and the state government to wade into the displacement of the over 400 youths that include Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba traders.

Lukman cautioned the security men against beating their members, saying it could inflame tension.

The state, however, justified the displacement of the traders, vowing to remove any impediment to free flow of vehicular and human traffic on roads, especially within the state capital.

Ndanusa, while updating newsmen on the exercise carried out in some strategic locations in the metropolis, said: “I, the Commissioner for Business, Innovation and Technology and the Commissioner for Works have had several meetings with Post Office traders and other stakeholders on the need to stop displaying their goods under the bridge, road median, and pedestrian walkways for easy movement of people and vehicles.

“During our discussions, we took them to the Soludero park and showed them where to display their goods, and also informed others to move to Kulende Market to display their goods. But this was to no avail.”

He added that the ministry also gave them till December 15, 2023, to vacate the areas, “but they appealed to the ministry to give them till December ending, to be able to market their goods during the festivities.

“We granted their request and agreed to vacate the place in the first week of January. But to our dismay, they refused to vacate until this morning that we started the enforcement.”