Crisis was averted on Saturday at the new Benin market in Edo state as traders clashed with some members of Hausa community in the area.
The incident which trended on various social media platforms gave various versions of the story as people were warned not to go through the new Benin axis.
This was as a result of a report that one Hausa man had killed a trader in the market leading to a riot where youths in the area almost lynched the young man and destroyed some wares displayed around the costain area of New Benin.
However, a statement made available to journalists by the police public relations officer of Edo state command Chidi Nwabuzor, says no death was recorded in the crisis that erupted on Saturday afternoon.
The police said that a young man whose name and address were unknown but profiled to be mentally unstable used a cutlass to inflict bodily injuries on one Anthony Jibunor of No. 116 Mission Road, Benin City, Edo State.
In the statement, the police image maker said the Command’s Tactical Teams and Patrol Teams from various Police Divisional Headquarters were dispatched to the scene to calm the riotous situation and were able to rescue the young man whose identify has not been revealed.
He has however assured citizens of safety of life and property around the area and that of the victim Anthony Jibunor and his assailant who were both receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital.
In view of this, the Commissioner of Police Edo State, Abutu Yaro, has sympathized with the victim and his family and wished him speedy recovery even as he appealed to the victim’s family members, friends and the general public to remain calm and avoid any act capable of causing breach of public peace.
(Editor: Nkoli Omhoudu)
