Bayelsa Govt Fires Back at Illegal Order, Insists Traders Must Operate Freely at Swali Market
By Passman Akpos
The Bayelsa State Government has dismissed circulating radio announcements claiming that the popular Swali Market would be shut down today, Friday, November 28, 2025, due to the ongoing burial rites of the Late Monarch, HRM King Godwin Gurosi Igodo.
In a special government statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Orientation & Strategy, Hon. Ebiuwou Koku-Obiyai, the state clarified that no approval was granted for any closure of the market, urging traders and residents to ignore the false announcement and go about their normal activities without fear.
According to the government, while it respects the revered monarch and the traditions surrounding his passage, no community or youth group has the authority to shut down public markets or obstruct lawful activities within the state capital.
The statement specifically warned youth and members of the Attissa Clan against preventing traders or residents from carrying out their legitimate businesses during the burial procession in and around Swali Market or any part of Yenagoa.
To maintain order, the government disclosed that security agencies have been deployed along the Ikoli Bridge corridor to prevent street trading and ensure smooth traffic flow during the ceremonies.
The announcement ended with an appeal for public cooperation to ensure a peaceful and hitch-free observance of the late king’s final rites.
