Edo State Police Command has confirmed the clash between Hausa and Igbo traders at the popular New Benin Market in Oredo Local Government Area of the state on Saturday.
WITHIN NIGERIA had reported that angry youths mainly traders at the New Benin Market went on a rampage after an Igbo trader was attacked with a machete by another trader of northern extraction.
The state police spokesman , SP. Chidi Nwabuzor, who confirmed the incident in a statement, said the situation has been brought under control.
According to the statement, “The Edo State Police Command wishes to inform the general public that its aware of the incident that occurred today being Saturday, 11th June 2022 where a young man whose name and address are unknown but profiled to be a mad man used cutlass to inflict bodily injuries on one Mr. Anthony Jibunor ‘M’ of No. 116 Mission Road, Benin City, Edo State.
“Immediately, the command received the distress call, Command Tactical Teams, Patrol Teams from various Police Divisional Headquarters and their various Divisional Police Officers in and around New Benin Police Divisional Headquarters were dispatched to the scene to bring down something seemly to riotous situation to normal and for protection of lives and property.
“The contingent of policemen that were dispatched to the scene met the assailant who was already in the hands of an angry mob that beat the hell out of him and the victim who the assailant brutally cut with a cutlass.
“The assailant and his victim were rescued from the angry mob and both of them were taken to undisclosed hospitals (for security reasons) for medical treatment.
“The good news so far is that both the victim and the assailant are in good stable medical condition. It is worthy of emphasis to clear the air that the identity of the assailant is yet unknown regarding his name, address, tribe, and family inclination.
“In view of the above, the Commissioner of Police Edo State CP Abutu Yaro, fdc sympathizes with the victim and his family and wishes him a speedy recovery.
“He, however, appeals to the victim’s family members, friends, well-wishers sympathizers, and the general public to remain calm and avoid any act capable of causing a breach of the public peace, which the command will stop at nothing in arresting and prosecuting any offender(s).
“He further warn those that encourage jungle justice to desist from it that no one has the right to take the life of a fellow human being that instead such a perceived offender should be brought to the nearby police station for proper investigation.”