One Injured As Igbo, Hausa Traders Clash At Benin Market

From Habiba Ibrahim-Sam

BENIN CITY

Pandemonium broke out at the popular New Benin Market in Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State, following a violent clash allegedly between Hausa and Igbo traders on Saturday morning.

 A trader, Anthony Jibunor, was attacked with a machete by an Hausa trader in the same market.

 Armed security personnel including, soldiers, Department of State Security Service (DSS), police and members Edo State Vigilante Network, took over the market to quell the unrest.

 The president of Traders Welfare Union in Oredo Local Government Area, Mr. Lucky Orukpe, confirmed the attackwhich, according to him, has flared tempers.

 He said a search for the injured victim has began while the crime suspect has been arrested by the Nigeria police operatives in New Benin Market Division.

 Orukpe, who sued for calm, said he cannot ascertain the condition of the victim of attack because he has not seen him as at the time of filing this report.

 “It is true that somebody was stabbed. We have gone round the market, but we are yet to see the person.

 “One Hausa man had a problem with an Igbo man here at New Benin and he stabbed the Igbo man.

 “So, we are trying to find out where the Igbo man does his business”, Orukpe said.

 The spokesman of the Nigeria Police Command in Edo State, SP. Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the incident in a telephone interview with newsmen, but promised to provide details soon.

 “Just hold on, I just got the report from the Divisional Police officer (DPO) at New Benin police station. And we are trying to put it together.

“We are all aware about the incident that occurred in New Benin Area today, where a man used cutlass to cut another man. The good news is that the injured man is alive. More details will come later”, Nwabuzor said.