Police ‘Restore Normalcy’ In Abuja Community Over Scavengers’ Clash With Residents, Arrest Suspects

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police Command has announced that normalcy has been restored in Byazhin after a clash that took place on Tuesday, May 14, 2024.

The incident occurred behind LEA Primary School, where a group of scavengers (baban-bola) reportedly waylaid some passersby and forcibly collected their valuables.

A statement issued by the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh, on Wednesday said a “courageous lady resisted, leading to a violent attack by the hoodlums, resulting in severe machete injuries”.

It said, “The FCT Police Command swiftly responded to the situation, making arrests of several suspects who are currently being interrogated to ascertain their complicity or otherwise.

“While reassuring residents that the situation is under control and normalcy has been restored, the Commissioner of Police, FCT, CP Benneth C. Igwe, psc, mni, encourages all residents to continue their lawful activities without fear, as adequate measures have been emplaced to prevent the recurrence of such incidents.”

SaharaReporters earlier reported that the clash between scavengers and residents of Byazhin community in Kubwa, in the Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), led to the death of three persons.

An eyewitness, who spoke to SaharaReporters on condition of anonymity, said the conflict started when a scavenger attempted to steal a pot of soup from a roadside restaurant.

It was gathered that the scavenger was apprehended by some passersby after an alarm was raised by the owner of the restaurant.

He was subsequently mobbed and beaten.

But his colleagues in anger mobilised other hoodlums armed with machetes, clubs, and stones. They launched a violent reprisal on the residents.

The woman whose soup was stolen became a victim of the ensuing violence, along with a passerby and a young boy.

The violence reportedly threw the entire area into a state of panic, leading to the closure of schools and shops.