The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command, Wednesday, said that following the outbreak of a civil unrest at Building Material market , Dei Dei, suburb of the FCT at about 11:30 am, it carried out a comprehensive deployment of tactical and intelligence assets of the Command led by the Commissioner of Police CP Babaji Sunday.
This was even as reports said at least two persons died while properties worth billions were set ablaze by irate okada riders in fracas that erupted between them and Igbo traders who were aggrieved on the death of a woman who died in an accident due recklessness of the rider.
Police said it swiftly moved to the scene to ensure that the unrest is nipped in the board and managed, forestalling the destruction of private and government infrastructure, loss of lives and properties and to restore normalcy to the situation.
Consequent upon the above, the Police in a concerted effort with other State apparatus upon arrival at the scene, managed the uproar preventing further disintegration of law and Order.
“In addition to the above, Police monitoring and surveillance to ascertain the cause of the outbreak of violence, sustain the relative peace restored, and affirm the resultant level of damage is ongoing. Findings will be communicated in due time” a statement by the command said last night.
“Furthermore, members of the public are urged to shun participating in the promulgation of unverified news about the incident capable of re-igniting the extinguished flame of violence.
“Residents are enjoined to desist from any form of violence and disobedience to law and order but to rather remain vigilant and report any suspicious or abnormal occurrence to the Police through the following emergency lines: 08032003913, 08061581938, 07057337653, and 08028940883, While the Public Complaint Bureau (PCB) desk, could be reached on: 0902 222 2352,
Earlier, a section of the popular timber Dei Dei Timber market was set ablaze in a brawl that erupted out between Igbo traders and Hausa Okada riders following the death of a woman as a result of recklessness of an Okada rider in Dei Dei, Wednesday.
The disturbance caused significant financial losses to many dealers that specialize in the sale of plywood and related materials.
According to reports, an altercation erupted between Igbo businessmen and some irate youths from the northern parts of the country as a woman fell off a commercial motorcycle and was crushed to death by a driving articulated vehicle.
The incident enraged a mob which set the motorcycle on fire.
The burning down of the motorcycle resulted in counter reaction from the commercial motor cyclists, who mobilized in large number and attacked the traders. They set the timber market owned mainly by the Igbo traders on fire, causing the traders huge losses.
Many traders lamented they suffered huge losses as a result of the riot.
One of the traders, Obiora Nnaemeka said he lost timber goods worth over a billion naira to the outbreak.
According to him: “See someone warehouse that has over N1 billion. What did we do to the Hausas in this country. See house properties are being destroyed,” Nnaemeka lamented
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