Tension enveloped Enugu as Cattle traders chase police with AK- 47

It was gathered that the crisis was triggered by an order from the State High Court that declared the New Artisan Market a security threat because of its proximity to the Government House and some officials from the State government house demolished the market.

However, an attempt translated to a fierce resistance by the Hausa traders, who reportedly went inside the market, brought several AK-47 rifles and chased away the officials and police detachment.

An eyewitness, Sampson Okorie told Punch, that the gun wielding Hausa traders also seized two bulldozers the state government deployed to the market and destroyed police Hilux vehicle.

Okorie said the vehicle was abandoned by the police, who ran for their life when they could not escape with it.

He said, "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,ÔÇØ Okorie said.

The state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Aliyu, confirmed the incident when contacted on telephone.

Aliyu described the action of the traders as unfortunate, saying the traders had a meeting with the State Governor, Mr Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi, on Wednesday night, when they agreed to move out of the market on Thursday.