Pandemonium at Wuse market, Abuja, day after police, Shiites’ clash

There was pandemonium at Wuse market, Abuja, on Monday afternoon, resulting in traders hurriedly closing their shops and visitors running out of the facility.

The development comes a day after police and members of the proscribed Islamic Movement in Nigeria (IMN), better known as Shiites, violently clashed in Abuja.

Two policemen, and a trader were killed in Sunday’s incident, with Shiites also saying they lost some of their members in the incident.

Sources in the market said there was disquiet when the management agency planned to reinstate a sacked official as the market manager.

Some traders in the market said the officials went round the market Monday afternoon to announce the plan of appointing the said official, simply known as Musa.

Musa, a former task force leader of the market, was accused of instigating violence which led to the burning of some shops a few months ago.

It was also learnt that the officials were rebuked by some youths who launched an attack on them.

“The police have been deployed to the market asking everyone to calm down. However, all shops remained closed as at 2pm now,” a source said.