It was a bloody day at the Byazhin area of Kubwa on Tuesday, when 3 persons were reportedly killed in a clash between local scavengers and residents of the community.
Eyewitnesses say crisis started when a scavenger, popularly referred to as baban bola, attempted to steal a woman’s pot of soup, but was overpowered and beaten up by neighbours and passers-by after the woman raised alarm.
The eyewitness, who gave her name as Jessica Adam, told our correspondent that the angry baban bola then mobilised hoodlums who returned at about 8:00 pm wielding weapons including machetes, clubs, and stones and began attacking residents at random, eventually killing the woman whose pot of soup was earlier stolen.
She said three persons, including two women and a young boy were killed in the clash. The unidentified boy and woman were caught in the unfortunate incident while passing through the community.
“They killed two people yesterday. The community has been in chaos since yesterday. The crisis continued till this morning when they killed somebody again. So far, three persons have been killed and many injured. The Police intervened and restored normalcy, but no arrest was made. The Police have intensified their patrol in the Byazhin area of Kubwa to prevent them from regrouping”, Ms Adams narrated.
Another resident of the community who wants to remain anonymous, also confirmed the death of the three persons but said he had no clue as to what may have started the clash.
“Yes, the riot started yesterday. And by this morning, we learnt that three persons have been killed. It happened in Byazhin around that Millionaire’s Quarters, behind that Living Faith Church. That place is usually dangerous, because it is quite lonely, and you cannot pass through there alone, especially in the evening”, he said.
Our correspondent gathered that schools and shops in the area have been closed down, as parents scampered to pick up theu children from their classrooms, and shops refused to open as of Wednesday morning.
However, the Commissioner of Police, FCT Police Command. CP Bennett Igweh, who described the incident as a “disturbance”, insisted that no one died in the commotion as the only victim who was macheted was receiving treatment at the hospital.
“They started their disturbance, but we have calmed everywhere down. The person who was macheted is in the hospital, only one person. No person has died”, he said.
