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Nigeria: One Feared Dead, 8 Injured in Ebonyi Communal Clash
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Vanguard (Lagos)
12 May 2008
Posted to the web 12 May 2008
Dennis Agbo
Abakaliki
A woman, has died with eight others sustaining injuries following weekend's community clash at Ezillo in Isihelu local government Area of Ebonyi state.
Though the Police Public Relations Officer in the state Fredrick N-Nuudam denied having report of any death as a result of the clash, a community source in Ezeillo told our reporter that a woman was consumed by the fire that raised one of the over eleven houses that were set on fire as a result of the fracas that broke out there on Saturday morning.
Property estimated at about N500 million were destroyed when two rival groups engaged themselves in a free for all fight at the Ezillo market.
Though the immediate cause of the fracas is not yet very clear, sources said that the two rival town unions had been contesting the franchise for tolls collection at the popular Ezillo foodstuff market.
Two houses including a private owned clinic near the market were seen razed down while the market was deserted and some fierce-looking youths seen carrying matches and clubs menacingly as they paraded the area.
Eye witness account narrates that the chaos which started around 11.00 am held up traffic for three hours such that commuters traveling between Enugu and Abakaliki, could not have thorough fare as owners of houses which were set on fire by the marauders battled to salvage some of their household goods.
PPRO, N-Nuudam, confirmed state command's receipt of the report of the outbreak of violence in the area in the early hours of Saturday, adding that immediately some regular policemen and anti-riot Police mobile force were dispatched to Ezillo to contain the crisis.
"There is no report of any casualty that I can tell you for now. Some people sustained matchet cuts injuries but the police have put the place under control and the people can go about their normal business," N-Nuudam stated.
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Chairman of Ishielu local government council, barrister Onwa Ali Onwa, told reporters that he invited the police when the violence broke out saying that the most important thing was to ensure that there was no loss of lives.
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