Three people, including two women and a young boy, have reportedly been killed in a clash between local scavengers, otherwise referred to as Baban bola, and residents of the Byazhin community in Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the FCT.
An eyewitness, who identified herself as Jessica Adam, told newsmen that a baban bola attempted to steal a woman’s pot of soup but was overpowered and beaten up after the woman alerted neighbours and passersby.
The embittered baban bola then went away and mobilised hoodlums who returned at about 8:00 pm wielding weapons including machetes, clubs, and stones and began attacking residents at random, eventually killing the woman whose pot of soup was earlier stolen.
In the continuing attack, two others, a woman and a young boy, reported to be passersby who unfortunately ran into the middle of the crisis, were also killed; they are, however, yet to be identified.
“They killed two people yesterday. The community has been in chaos since yesterday. The crisis continued until this morning, when they killed somebody again. So far, three people have been killed and many injured. The police intervened and restored normalcy, but no arrest was made. The police have intensified their patrol in the Byazhin area of Kubwa to prevent them from regrouping,” Ms. Adams narrated.
Another resident, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, also confirmed the deaths of the three people but said he had no clue as to what may have started the clash.
“Yes, the riot started yesterday. And by this morning, we learned that three people had been killed. It happened in Byazhin around those millionaire’s quarters, behind that Living Faith Church. That place is usually dangerous because it is quite lonely, and you cannot pass through there alone, especially in the evening,” he said.
It was gathered that schools and shops in the area have been closed down as parents scrambled to pick up kids from their classrooms, and shops refused to open as of Wednesday morning.
In a statement issued to newsmen by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh disclosed that normalcy has since been restored when she quoted the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh, as saying, “The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has restored normalcy in Byazhin following an incident that occurred on May 14, 2024, behind LEA Primary School, where it was reported that a group of scavengers (baban-bola) waylaid some passers-by, forcibly collecting their valuables.
“A courageous lady resisted, leading to a violent attack by the hoodlums, resulting in severe machete injuries.
“The FCT Police Command swiftly responded to the situation, making arrests of several suspects who are currently being interrogated to ascertain their complicity or otherwise. While reassuring residents that the situation is under control and normalcy has been restored, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Benneth C. Igwe, psc, mni, encourages all residents to continue their lawful activities without fear, as adequate measures have been emplaced to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.”
ALSO READ THESE TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNEÂ
and then