Three feared dead in Ado-Ekiti

One of the scenes of the violence ... yesterday

Three persons were reportedly killed yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital, in a clash between drivers and Hausa traders.

The clash paralysed traffic, commercial and social activities in the town for about eight hours.

Fifteen shops were set ablaze and many vehicles damaged.

The property destroyed belonged mainly to butchers and Hausa traders, who  launched counter-attacks against the drivers.

The number of victims could not be ascertained as they were rushed to various hospitals by policemen and  sympathisers.

Sources claimed that three persons died and an unspecified number injured but police spokesman Alberto Adeyemi said only four persons were injured.

The police spokesperson said two units of Police Mobile Force (PMF) were deployed in the trouble spots.

The clash was fierce in areas, such as Atikankan (which has the highest concentration of Hausa in Ado-Ekiti), Old Garage, Ijigbo, Isato, Igbehin and Erekesan Market.

Businesses were paralysed in places, such as Irona, Okesa, Okeyinmi and Ajilosun.

Two of the victims reportedly died at Atikankan, where the violence spread to later in the day.

A cameraman working for a Lagos television station, CORE TV, Sunday Adigun, was injured by hoodlums, who smashed his camera.

Hoodlums had a field day as they looted shops, carting away money and goods.

The hoodlums were armed with guns, bottles, charms, machetes, cudgels, knives, petrol and matches.

Smoke from burning shops billowed into the sky.

Banks, shops, motor parks, markets and other commercial outlets were shut.

Sources said the mayhem followed the alleged robbing of a commercial driver’s wife.

 It was gathered that  N36,000 was snatched from the woman on Sunday night.

 The culprit allegedly escaped through Sabo, which has a high concentration of  Hausa.

Cases of bag snatching and robbery are commonplace in the Old Garage-Ijigbo axis.

Unconfirmed reports also claimed that the driver’s wife was raped.

 It was learnt that the drivers launched a manhunt for the culprit.

The drivers stormed the houses of the Hausa, who also launched counter-attacks.

Ijigbo, Mugbagba, Oja Oba,  New Garage and Old Garage were turned to a war zone.

The bureaux de change operated by the Hausa were attacked with cash both in local and foreign currencies stolen by hoodlums.

Heaps of destroyed items, such as onions, pepper, tomatoes, dried fish were burnt with their relics littering the ground.

The Commissioner of Police, Etop John James, led a team of policemen in 15 patrol vehicles to bring the situation under control.

James’ presence brought normalcy to the scene where he was present but clashes continued in other areas.

Armed policemen stood guard at  various flashpoints.