Security agents on Wednesday averted what could have turned into a bloodbath between hoodlums and traders at Abraka- Asaba market.
Trouble was said to have started in early hours of the day when suspected hoodlums disguised as taskforce members with Asaba Development Capital Terrority, engaged traders who have refused to relocate from the demolished market in fierce verbal altercations which subsequently resulted to a gun battle.
Delta state Police Commissioner, Hafiz Muhammed Inuwah who confirmed this to Journalists, said that the timely intervention of the police and other security agents saved the situation and calmed frayed nerves.
Though no lives were lost, Inuwah said 30 suspected hoodlums were arrested for interrogation.
Sources said that the return of the traders who were sacked from the demolished market few months ago, was informed by the partial lockdown by the state Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa in the wake of the Coronavirus Pandemic currently ravaging the world.
An eyewitness, Umukoro James said that the traders, particularly the Hausa traders, have allegedly been at war with the officials of the taskforce who claimed to have relocated them to Oko Community in Asaba where they were expected to have commenced sale of their goods including food items.
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The new site for the traders, investigation revealed, was rejected by traders due to the deplorable state of the environment, which is swampy and prone to flooding during the rainy season.
An Hasua trader who gave his name Adamu Sulaiman, who spoke to Journalists in the area said “we were shocked this morning when some persons came into the premises of Asaba- Abraka market while we were hanging around to see how we could eke out living because of the Coronavirus Pandemic, suddenly they started shooting into the air, claiming they were taskforce of Mrakpor destroying makeshift stalls.
“They said we should move into Oko Community where they claimed to have allocated and relocated us to, but the environment is completely water, how can we do business in such a place? We will not go there the environment is terrible and full of water, water.”
Further investigation revealed that since the introduction of the compulsory use of face masks in public places, many of the Hausa traders have called it a bluff and do not bother about its use in spite of threats to Isolate violators by the state government; an observation made by the suspected hoodlums when they allegedly stormed the area and started shooting into the air to eject the traders from the premises.
The mayhem led to a long traffic holdup starting from Okwe Junction to the market.
However there was a heavy presence of Policemen, Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Immigration Officers and Officials of the Federal Road Safety Corps ( FRSC) to maintain law and order and ensure free flow of vehicular movements towards the Asaba – Onitsha head bridge and other adjourning streets along the Expressway.