Series of clashes between Akwa Ibom traders and Hausa traders at the popular Okaro Market in Iriebe, Oyigbo Local Government Area of Rivers State have led to the death of an unidentified number of persons with many others including a police officer severely wounded.
The fight which began on Wednesday escalated through the night to Thursday morning.
The ethnic squabble in the market is reportedly over who would control the strategic market.
Policemen guarding the Hausa traders repelled an attack from the Akwa Ibom traders and residents in the area resulting in the death of two persons, according to a statement by the police.
The Rivers State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Nnamdi Omoni, while confirming the incident, said the persons killed were bandits.
He said that they had been terrorising and robbing cattle dealers in the market.
He said the vigilant police officers guarding the market engaged the criminals in a shoot and killed two of them while the rest fled with bullet wounds.
He added that one police officer sustained an injury during the incident; while catches of arms and machetes were recovered from the suspected criminals.
But the Akwa Ibom residents disagreed with the accounts of the police, stressing that the police is taking sides in the dispute between them and the Hausa Traders.
Ekpeyono Okon who spoke to TPCN said the police killed more than two persons of Akwa Ibom origin while arresting many more.
He said the Hausa Traders attacked them first result in the revenge on Wednesday, adding that the Hausa traders invited the police when they got wind of their plot to revenge the attack.
According to him, one Prince Orugbum was stabbed to death with his body dumped in front of the Palace gate.
He said that the police have been breaking into the homes of Akwa Ibom residents to carry out arrests, explaining that from trailer park to Okaro down to timber market bus stop were affected.
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