Traders and artisans in Wuse market, Abuja, have been left reeling after their means of livelihood was abruptly halted due to a barricade by police operatives. The situation escalated following the tragic killing of a colleague, leaving the market in turmoil. The once bustling market now stands desolate, with shop owners denied access by heavily armed police officers.
The tension in the market stemmed from a recent incident where a hawker was shot by officers of the Nigerian Correctional Service, sparking outrage among the residents. This led to a protest by angry youths and the subsequent setting ablaze of parts of the market, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
According to the spokesperson for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, SP Jospehine Adeh, the Commissioner of Police FCT Command, Benneth Igweh, took swift action to restore order following the civil unrest. The incident that triggered the chaos involved the apprehension of Ibrahim Yahaya, who was taken before a mobile court in Wuse Market and subsequently convicted by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB).
However, the situation took a tragic turn when Ibrahim Yahaya attempted to escape while being conveyed to the prison, resulting in him being shot by corrections personnel. Despite efforts to save him, Ibrahim Yahaya succumbed to his injuries, further fuelling the anger of the onlookers who then resorted to violence.
While normalcy has been restored in the market, investigations are ongoing to ascertain the full details of the incident. The officer responsible for the fatal shooting has been taken into custody, but the traders maintain that their deceased colleague was innocent. They describe Ibrahim Yahaya as a hardworking man who was simply trying to make ends meet and did not deserve such a tragic end.
As the community mourns the loss of a member and grapples with the aftermath of the violence, the Commissioner of Police FCT has urged residents to carry on with their daily activities peacefully. The scars left by the unrest serve as a stark reminder of the fragile nature of peace and the need for justice to prevail in the face of tragedy..
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