Traders operating in the Mingakaman market in Lakes State’s Awerial County on Tuesday closed their shops in protest over increased cases of burglaries.
A member of the business community, Ahmed Mohammed, told Radio Tamazuj on Tuesday that the traders decided to close their shops to compel the government to address insecurity in the market.
“We did not open any shop this morning because last night, we had one shop again broken and looted in the market. In January five shops were broken into and looted. Now, the total number of shops broken into since January this year is six shops,” he added.
Mohammed claimed that crimes have been on the rise in the market since county officials started patrolling at night.
“The traders do not sleep in the shops to protect them, but it is the local authority, the town clerk, and organized forces who are in charge of security in the Mingkaman market. But, shops are being broken into by criminals since they took over the night patrols in Mingkaman market,” he claimed.
According to Mohammed, the businesses will only reopen after a meeting with county authorities to improve security at the market.
When contacted, the Town Mayor of Awerial county of Lakes State, Abraham Deng Cuei said, “We are aware of the closure of shops in Mingkaman market, but we are not aware of the reason for the closure of shops and I have now invited them to come to me in the office for a meeting.”
“I have invited the leader of traders from Mingkaman to come and inform me about the reason for keeping shops closed. We shall update you later after we meet with traders,” he concluded.