Hoodlums wreak havoc in Abuja community, kill three over pot of soup

• The victims, who were residents of the community, include two women and a young boy, eyewitness said

At least three persons lost their lives when violence erupted in Bwari Area Council of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

The deceased persons where killed when some hoodlums, popularly known as baban bola, attacked Byazhin community, in Kubwa area of the council.

The victims, who were residents of the community, include two women and a young boy, eyewitness said.

Trouble began when a scavenger attempted to steal a woman’s pot of soup, a resident of the area, Jessica Adams, disclosed.

According to her, the scavengers was subdued and beaten up after the woman alerted neighbours and passers-by.

The hoodlum then left, reinforced and returned at about 8pm on Tuesday night wielding weapons including machetes, clubs, and stones and began attacking residents at random.

According to her, the woman whose pot of soup was earlier stolen, was killed during the attack.

Two others, a woman and a young boy, who were reportedly passing by during the unrest were also killed.

“They killed two people yesterday. The community has been in chaos since yesterday. The crisis continued till this morning when they killed somebody again. So far, three persons have been killed and many injured. The Police intervened and restored normalcy, but no arrest was made. The Police have intensified their patrol in the Byazhin area of Kubwa to prevent them from regrouping,” Adams told Punch.

A resident in the community who craved anonymity also confirmed the death of the three persons but said he had no clue as to what may have started the clash.

“Yes, the riot started yesterday. And by this morning, we learnt that three persons have been killed. It happened in Byazhin around that Millionaire’s Quarters, behind that Living Faith Church. That place is usually dangerous, because it is quite lonely, and you cannot pass through there alone, especially in the evening,” he said.

It was gathered that schools and shops in the area have been closed down, as parents scampered to pick up kids from their classrooms, and shops refused to open on Wednesday