2 feared killed as groups fight over control of market

AT least two persons were feared killed on Thursday, following a clash between two rival families operating as ticketers at Lagos Street in King’s Market area of Benin, Edo State.

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Commercial activities within the market were grounded as sellers, buyers and passersby scampered for safety.
In order to restore order, security operatives fired tear gas canisters into the air as policemen and soldiers stormed the scene of the trouble.

Nigerian Tribune gathered that disagreement between the two groups, Obaze and Osula, who usually issue tickets to hawkers in the market occasioned the trouble.
The Obaze family group had reportedly approached the Osula group to harmonise the number of ticketers in the two groups, but the Osula group were said to have rejected the request, thereby creating a heated argument and fight.
Eyewitnesses said the fight escalated within the highly commercial and populated area, leading to a free for all. A number of people were said to have sustained various degrees of injury in the violence, while one person was allegedly shot.
“The Osula and Obaze groups control Lagos Street market. They issue tickets to traders here for revenue collection. The Obaze group complained that they have only five people issuing ticket while the Osula people have 18.
“So, they went to meet them (Osula) to make everything equal but the Osula refused and they started fighting. Somebody from the Osula group shot a member of the Obaze group and another person was seriously injured and rushed to one hospital,” an eyewitness said.
Edo State Commissioner of Police, Foluso Adebanjo, confirmed the incident, adding that some arrests have been made. The CP, who visited the scene, also said that the cause of the trouble had to do with revenue sharing formula.
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