ENUGU: Cattle traders chase police, govt officials with AK-47, burn vehicle

THERE was pandemonium at the popular New Artisan Market yesterday as cattle traders launched attack on government officials and police officers who were at the busy market to enforce court order.

An order from the State High Court has declared the market a security threat because of its proximity to the Government House and directed that it should be demolished.

However, an attempt to effect the execution was fiercely resisted by the Hausa traders, who reportedly went inside the market, brought several AK-47 rifles and chased away the officials and police detachment.

The traders also reportedly seized two bulldozers the state government deployed to the market and destroyed police Hillux vehicle

It was gathered that the vehicle was abandoned by the police, who ran for their lives when they could not escape with it.

“I was opposite the market when four police vehicles with about 10 policemen arrived at the place with people suspected to be government officials. Earlier in the day, two bulldozers were deployed to the area.

“Shortly after the police arrived, there were gunshots in the air. I came out from the shop where I was and saw people scampering for safety. The policemen were also running.

“The next thing I saw was gun wielding traders, who came out and blocked the NNPC end of the Enugu-Port Harcourt expressway and stopping vehicular movement, just as they set up bonfires along the expressway. When the atmosphere became tense, I moved out of the area,” a source was quoted by Punch to have said.

Confirming the incident, the State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu described  the action of the traders as unfortunate.

He said the traders had a meeting with the State Governor, Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Wednesday night, when they agreed to move out of the market yesterday.