UPDATE: Hoodlums set Wuse market on fire over death of convict

Part of the popular Wuse Market in Abuja was set ablaze by suspected hoodlums and touts following the shooting and killing of an alleged convict.

The incident occurred when a suspect being tried in the market mobile court attempted to escape and was shot and killed by a police officer.

A senior official of the Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) confirmed the incident, stating that the suspect had already been convicted of a crime and attempted to flee while being taken to court.

This led to the police officer shooting him, provoking the attackers to burn down some shops, including the AMML office, and damage vehicles in the car park.

The situation caused a stampede in the market as people rushed to save their lives or property.

While the exact number of injuries sustained in the stampede was not clear, people scaled fences and pushed through gates to escape.

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Innocent Amaechina, PRO of AMML, confirmed the fire incident, stating that their office, along with several shops and cars, were burnt.

The Fire Service and Police had cordoned off the area, preventing access.

Nkechi Isa, Head of Public Affairs of the FCT Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), confirmed that at least 10 shops were razed down during the fire incident at the Wuse Market in Abuja.

“The fire has since been brought under control by a combined team of the Federal Fire Service, FCT Fire Service, and the Julius Berger Fire Department. Julius Berger Fire Service is still dampening the scene of the fire incident to ensure it does not spread.

“The cause of the fire is yet to be ascertained.”.

As at the time of filing the report, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, in a statement issued to newsmen, quoted the FCT Commissioner of Police, Bennett Igweh as saying; “The civil unrest in Wuse. The CP FCT led the response teams of the Command himself to the scene to address and put the situation under control. The police operatives are on ground and normalcy has been restored. More details to follow shortly,”.

NIGERIAN TRIBUNE