Facts have emerged on how angry youths set parts of the popular Wuse Market in Abuja on fire over the killing of a 17-year-old hawker simply identified as Musa.
The office of the Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) inside the market as well as some cars parked at the market’s car park were reportedly torched.
Sources confirmed that a suspect who already tried at the Mobile Court in the market for hawking attempted to run away, but was allegedly shot and killed by the Police.
A senior official of the AMML said the suspect was already convicted of a crime associated with illegal trading and in the process of taking him to court for another offence, the boy bolted and tried to run when he was shot by the Police.
The AMML explained that the shooting provoked the angry youths including hawkers and those who push barrows and other frustrated people to attack and burn down some shops, the office of AMML and some vehicles.
The situation caused a stampede in the market as people rushed to save their property.
It is not clear how many people were injured in the stampede as people scaled the fences while some pushed their way through the few gates available.
Innocent Amaechina, the Public Relations Officer of the AMML, who confirmed the incident, said operatives of the Fire Service and the Police cordoned the area and that he couldn’t access the area himself.
With reports and picture from Daily Trust
