- Five feared dead, several others injured
From John Adams, Minna
A bloody clash between fulanis, Gwaris and men of the local vigilante at the Beji Market in the Bosso local government area of Niger state have claimed the lives of no fewer than five people.
Scores of the people were however Injured during the clash which a source close the community said occured on Wednesday afternoon during the community local market and currently receiving at various hospital in Minna, the state capital.
According to our source trouble started when the Gwaris in the market who are the majority tribe in the area noticed a suspected drug dealer who was arrested the previous market day plying his trade and handed over the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Worried by this development, the Gwaris in the town reportedly approached and asked how he escaped from the clutches of men of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency NDLEA.
According to eyewitnesses, the issue degenerated into a hot argument with the Gwaris who have continue to frawn at the activities illicit drug dealers in the market, insisting that the drug dealer must leave the market.
It was gathered that other fulanis in the market rose in support of the drug suspect a development that led to clashes between the two ethnic groups which also brought in men of the local vigilante groups.
Different dangerous weapons were freely deployed by the warring groups in the clash leading to one of those involved pierced in the stomach with his intestine thrown out.
It was at this point that sounds of guns began to rage in the market as traders scrambled for safety abandoning wares.
Those killed, it further gathered were either shot with locally made gun or cut with sword and matchets and were confirmed dead on arrival at the Minna General Hospital.
It was however gathered that the drug dealer at the centre of the crisis escaped but was later arrested and taken to the police station in the town .
The police has already taken over the entire market stopping traders from going in and out of the facility.
Consequently the State Government was said to have ordered for close down the popular market for two weeks even though there is no official statement to that effect.
The Police is yet to officially comment or issue a statement on the crisis.