A section of Abuja’s popular trading zone, Wuse Market, was yesterday, set on fire, following the reported killing of a criminal suspect by a security officer.
It could not be ascertained at press time whether the officer involved was a police officer or a Prison officer, as there were conflicting accounts on the identity of the officer involved.
Some angry traders along with hoodlums were said to have been displeased that the suspect, who was convicted by a Mobile Court but attempted to escape from lawful custody was gunned down.
A senior official of the Abuja Markets Management Limited, AMML, who pleaded for anonymity confirmed the incident, adding that the office of the agency was also torched.
He said the suspect was already convicted of a crime which was not mentioned and in the process of taking the alleged convict away, he bolted but was shot.
The situation led to a commotion in the area as people ran for safety, with many injured in the process.
At press time, the extent of damage could not be ascertained but Vanguard gathered that several ships and vehicles were torched.
AMML spokesman, Innocent Amaechina, who could not immediately give further details, said firefighters were at the scene, as policemen cordoned off the area.
