It was learnt that the scrap dealers, mostly Hausa, accused the ‘Seriki Fulani’ (the head of Fulani) of supporting the officials of the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) to demolish their shanties where they transact business, which falls within the territory of the corporation.
The confrontation between the two sides started on Tuesday night but snowballed into a major conflagration yesterday. It was learnt that the hoodlums, numbering about 50, armed with axes, machetes, clubs and other dangerous weapons, stormed the market about 2a.m. yesterday and attacked the traders who had already slept in their various shops.
They also looted the market, stole money and other valuables. The spokesperson for the Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria, Lagos chapter, Mr. Salisu Jikantoro, said it was not the Seriki Fulani who ordered the demolition of the scrap dealers’ shanties. He said: “The Seriki is not responsible for the demolition of their shanties.
It is the NRC officials who came and said they wanted their land for offloading cows into the market. “Last Saturday when cows were brought in coaches, the NRC officials complained of lack of space.
It was then they concluded that some of the shanties on their land would be demolished. But the action of the NRC officials did not go down well with the scrap dealers who marched to the office of the Seriki Fulani to express their grievances.”
The Seriki Fulani was said to have advised the youth to comply with the officials and vacate the land, because the NRC is the rightful owner. “Instead, the youth went back and mobilised.
They attacked the traders. They maimed, killed and looted,” Jikantoro added. The spokesman said about 20 of his members were pres-ently lying critically ill in the hospital, battling to stay alive.
Also six vehicles belonging to the executives of the association were damaged by the irate youth. He added: “We also lost about N300 million to the clash which has paralysed business activities in the market.”
It was learnt that while the Fulani lost six people, three persons died on the side of the Hausa. At the office of the Seriki Hausa, one of the secretaries, who identified himself simply as Abdulahi, described the clash as very unfortunate.
He said: “We lost about three of people to the fight. The clash was just a little misunderstanding between some youths. Investigation is ongoing on the matter. Our leaders have intervened and there is peace in the market now.”
A trader, Mr. Haruna Ismail, told our correspondent that the crisis had paralysed business activities. He said: “We are all idle now. We are just sitting down, doing nothing.
None of us is allowed to slaughter a cow in the abattoir. Now we cannot sell. Government should come to our aid and provide us security because we cannot afford to lose our life investment.”
A phone seller, Abubakar Umar, told our correspondent that he was sleeping when the hoodlums attacked about 2a.m. He said: “I saw the hoodlums, armed with different weapons,rush into the market. They started to attack people.
The hoodlums stole over 100 phones in my shop. We want security in the market. I don’t know where to start from now.” A photographer, who identified himself simply as Rabiu, said it was a terrible experience. He said: “I was sleeping when they came.
They ordered me out of my house and collected my money. But some of them who know me asked their colleagues to spare me. They said that I was nice to them. That was how God spared my life.”
The Iyaloja of the market, Mrs. Oluremi Adewusi, urged the police to patrol the market on a daily basis to prevent further breakdown of law and order. She said: “We have lost millions of naira to the clash.
We want peace in the market, because this is the place where we make ends meet and get the money to feed our family members. We are sick and tired of the clash.” It was learnt that some of the hoodlums invited their colleagues from other parts of the state to assist them in the fight.
Witnesses said that AK47 rifles, bows and arrows, machetes and daggers were freely used during the fight. A source said: “The fight was as a result of demolition of some shops and shanties by the government.
The Hausa were not happy about the demolition because they felt they were mostly affected since shanties and shops belonging to Fulani were not demolished.
They felt the demolition was carried out by the Fulani leaders for their trailers to have easy access to the market. “We don’t understand while two groups are fighting each other.
They are both from the North and we believe that their leaders should have intervened to settle the crisis amicably. It is a pity that many people were killed and several people were injured.”
Meanwhile, peace returned to the area about 11a.m. yesterday following the intervention of some security personnel. Policemen and soldiers were patrolling the market to prevent further breakdown of law and order. When contacted, the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the clash.
But the PPRO said it was only one person who died in the clash while four persons had been arrested. She said: “The report we have indicated that the crisis erupted as a result of a young Hausa girl beaten up by a Fulani man.
The action did not go down well with the Hausa men which led them to seek revenge. This later degenerated to a serious fight and subsequent destruction of property.”https://newtelegraphonline.com/hausa-fulani-clash-leaves-nine-dead-lagos/
No comments:
Post a Comment