Tension in Enugu as 2 persons died, Mosque Burnt

There was tension in Enugu State, yesterday, following the killing of two persons during a deadly clash between Igbo and Fulani at Gariki Market Awkuneno in Enugu State.

The incident took place on Wednesday around 5:00pm. The incident started in the market when a Fulani man identified as Ali came from New Artisan market with a cow to slaughter in Gariki , where Ifeanyi, an Igbo man worked as an attendant. Ali came to Gariki because the New Artisan market was closed by Enugu State government earlier this week.

According to an eye-witness, when Ifeanyi finished slaughtering Ali’s cow for him, Ali paid ₦400 to Ifeanyi instead of the ₦500 fee they agreed on.

Ifeanyi was said to have asked Ali to complete the money by giving him the remaining ₦100 but Ali refused, insisting that he would not pay any other money.

The quarrel got to a fight between the two during which Ali pulled out a dagger and stabbed Ifeanyi severally on the stomach. Ifeanyi slumped and died on the spot.

Ali was said to have attempted to escape but some traders grabbed and lynched him.

The angry Igbo traders later mobilized themselves, moved down to a mosque inside Gariki Market and burnt it.

Meanwhile, normalcy has returned, following the deployment of mobile police to the market and environs even as the Enugu State police Spokesman, Superintendent Ebere Amaraizu, confirmed the story.

Amaraizu said the command had already deployed some policemen to Gariki market to stop the situation from escalating.

His words: “Two persons were confirmed dead yesterday in the course of a clash between an easterner and a northerner over an alleged misunderstanding that arose between them at Gariki Awkunanaw market.”

At press time, peace talk was ongoing between the Igbo and Hausa-Fulani traders in the market.

Contacted, the out-going Secretary General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Dr. Joe Nworgu, said he did not have details of the incident and cannot comment on it.