By Suzan Edeh with agency report

Bauchi—Business activities have been crippled in Bauchi State as major markets have remained closed following the bomb explosion that killed 17 persons and left many others injured at the market on Monday. Altogether, 70 shops were razed following the blast.

Investigations by Vanguard yesterday showed that many traders closed their shops as customers were shunning crowded areas such as markets.

This was even as Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State has condemned the bomb blast that claimed some lives and injured many.

Apart from Bauchi Central Market, other busy markets like the Wuntil and Mudal Lawal markets witnessed few customers as very few traders and customers were seen transacting business while most shops were closed.

However, security had been beefed up at the market areas to forestall any breakdown of law and order with the few traders and customers coming into the markets being frisked by the security agents.

Some of the traders who spoke to Vanguard at the various markets lamented that terrorist activities had disrupted businesses in the north-east, thereby leading to poor sales and lack of patronage by customers.

Two provision stores owners at the Wuntil Market, Mallam Yusuf Danlami and Mohammed Dauda said the festive periods were times when businesses boomed with traders recording huge profits from sales, but stressed that the continued attacks by insurgents in market areas had crippled commercial activities.

“A market is supposed to be a place where you freely walk in and purchase commodities, but it is very unfortunate that terrorists now see these areas as spots where they carry out their nefarious activities, leading to loss of lives and property,” Mohammed said.