Fear Of Violence Triggers Panic Buying Of Food Items In Kaduna

Residents of Kaduna State in northern Nigeria are into panic buying of basic essentials food items, just as sellers made brisk business, ahead of tomorrow’s presidential election.

This is consequent upon fear of what might happen, if either of the presidential candidates of the two dominant parties, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressives Congress (APC) wins.

Violence had broke out in the State after the 2011 general elections, leaving scores dead and several property burnt.

Fear of a recurrence of the post-election violence had triggered the panic buying, with residents stock-piling food stuff at home and making huge cash withdrawals from banks.

Channels Television visited Ibrahim Taiwo and Chechenia markets in the State capital. There was heavy traffic of people buying goods, particularly food stuff.

Some of those interviewed by Channels Television said, they were piling their homes because of the no-movement order during the election and also for fear of any outbreak of violence, as witnessed in 2011 when they ran out of food stuff due to the curfew that was imposed then.

There was also huge presence of security agents at the market and other parts of the State, apparently to forestall any breakdown of law and order."