Millions of naira’s worth of goods were destroyed, according to traders at the well-known Wuse market, which caught fire after a hawker was allegedly shot and killed by a security guard on Tuesday afternoon.
Due to its temporary closure, there was tension in the market.
A few vendors who were present at the market asked why the minister for the FCT had not gone there since the incident.
The ten impacted stores are situated on the first row from the market’s main gate.
Foreign bed sheets, clothing materials, travelling boxes, and gold were all destroyed.
The incident is said to have resulted in the burning of at least eight vehicles.
While some are accusing the enraged mob, store owners claim that police tear gas caused the fire that destroyed their establishments.
The hawker, who the police identified as 27-year-old Ibrahim Yahaya, was shot by the police after being taken into custody by a few “task force officers,” which sparked trouble.
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The hawker was shot while attempting to flee from custody, according to shop owners who claimed to have seen the incident.
Some young people in the market were reportedly incensed by the killing.
The crowd proceeded toward the market’s police station, smashing windows and setting a few nearby cars on fire.
Around 3:30 pm, a wild incident broke out in the market, burning down eight cars and the Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) office.
Oga Godddy, a trader whose store was destroyed, claimed to have lost $7,000 along with merchandise valued at millions of naira.
Usman Ishaya Magaji (CA2), the correctional officer who is suspected of shooting the hawker, has been taken into custody by the police in the meantime.
In a phone conversation with our reporter on Wednesday, SP Adeh Josephine, the spokeswoman for the FCT police command, confirmed the arrest.
According to her, the suspect is being held by the police while the investigation is being conducted.
