Angry Hausa Youths Storm Popular Market With Dangerous Weapons After Their Colleague Was Killed

Fears of reprisal spread through Marian Market in Calabar and its surrounding areas following the alleged killing of a Hausa boy by rate-collecting agents.

The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday afternoon at the market when the agents confronted the boy and his friends. The boys, who were returning from collecting rusted iron scraps with their wheelbarrow, were asked to pay a fee of N100 by the agents.

According to market women who witnessed the event, the boys refused to pay, arguing that they were not hawking any goods but simply passing through the market. Despite their explanation, the agents insisted on collecting the fee, leading to a confrontation.

“A fight broke out between the agents and the Hausa boys. One of the agents struck the Hausa boy, causing his death on the spot. This caused panic throughout the market, and the agents fled,” explained Mrs. Angelina Effiong, a trader selling second-hand clothes.

The deceased’s fellow Hausa boys later retrieved his body for burial, said another trader, Cyril Umoh. On Thursday, tensions remained high as many of the deceased’s kinsmen, armed with weapons, stormed Marian Market searching for the rate collectors.

In response to the potential for violence, many market women and bus drivers left the market. The police deployed a significant number of officers to the area to manage the situation.

Police spokesperson Irene Ugbo stated, “We hold security meetings every morning, but this issue was not mentioned. I am not aware of it, but I will investigate and revert.”

There have been numerous complaints from traders about the rate collectors’ misconduct, including assaults on women traders and the confiscation or destruction of their goods. These reports led the state government to ban rate collection, but the agents have consistently ignored the order.