In a disturbing turn of events, a section of Wuse Market in Abuja witnessed unrest on Tuesday as enraged youths and traders reacted to an alleged incident involving a police officer. Reports suggest that the turmoil ensued after a police officer, stationed at the Mobile Court within the market, purportedly shot a man who attempted to flee after being charged and convicted.
A reliable source within the Abuja Market Management Limited confirmed the incident, revealing that the market area had been cordoned off by the Nigeria Police Force to restore order. Additionally, officers from the FCT Fire Service were deployed to extinguish the flames engulfing a portion of the market.
According to eyewitness accounts, the unrest erupted following the fatal shooting of an unarmed civilian by a member of the police task force. One witness, who requested anonymity, shared their perspective, stating, “The market task force had reportedly killed one of the hustlers, sparking a revolt among his associates. They resorted to burning down a prison bus and causing damage to some shops. The situation escalated after the task force shot and killed an unarmed civilian.”
Efforts to reach the Director of the FCT Fire Service, Amiola Adebayo, for comment were unsuccessful. Similarly, the Police Public Relations Officer of the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, indicated that the authorities were in the process of gathering information and would provide further details once available. SP Adeh stated, “We are currently assessing the situation and gathering information. I will provide updates as soon as we have more details.”
