No Clash Between Hausa, Igbo Traders In Edo – Police

The Edo State police command has denied reports that there was a clash between Igbo youths who are mainly traders clashed with Hausa traders at New Benin market in the state.

The command was reacting to a viral video, which surfaced online on Saturday, that there was an ethnic clash between the Hausas and the Igbo traders.

It was learned that a man who was purportedly known to belong to the Hausa ethnic group allegedly killed an Igbo man with a machete.

Following the attack, there was pandemonium in the city centre as traders, commuters scampered for safety for fear of a reprisal attack.

Reacting to the development, the command’s spokesman, Chidi Nwabuzor, said the clash in the state was not an ethical clash as reported by the media.

He stated that a young man whose name and address are unknown but profiled to be a mad man used cutlass to inflict bodily injuries on one Anthony Jibunor.

Nwabuzor stated the assailant was rescued from an angry mob, adding that both the victim and the culprit were taken to undisclosed hospitals.

The command spokesman, however, said both the victim and the assailant are in good, stable medical condition.

The statement reads, “The identity of the assailant is yet unknown as regards his name, address, tribe and family inclination.

“A young man whose name and address are unknown but profiled to be a mad man used cutlass to inflict bodily injuries on one Anthony Jibunor, male, of No. 116 Mission Road, Benin City, Edo State.

“The command received the distress call, Command Tactical Teams, Patrol Teams from various Police Divisional Headquarters and their various Divisional Police Officers in and around New Benin Police Divisional Headquarters were dispatched to the scene to bring down a riotous situation to normal and for protection of lives and property.

“The contingent of policemen that were dispatched to the scene met the assailant who was already in the hands of angry mob that beat the hell out of him and the victim who the assailant brutally cut with a cutlass. The assailant and his victim were rescued from the angry mob and both of them taken to undisclosed hospitals (for security reasons) for medical treatment,” he said.

He appealed to the victim’s family members and the general public to remain calm and avoid any act capable of causing a breach of public peace.

Nwabuzor stated that the command will ensure offenders are arrested and prosecuted. He further warned those that encourage jungle justice to desist from it.