Pandemonium broke out at Wuse Market on Tuesday, one of the popular markets at the centre of the nation’s capital, as the a group, #OurMumudondo, protesting the long absence of President Muhammadu Buhari from the country on medical vacation in the United Kingdom, led by Charles Oputa, popularly called Charly Boy, clashed with another group in support of President Buhari.
The #OurMumudondo group which took its protest to Wuse market with the intention to sensitise the traders on their stance on Mr. President’s long absence in office, met with a stiff opposition from the Wuse market security and pro-Buhari supporters who immediately attacked the Charly Boy-led group.
According to Mrs. Janet Michael, a shop owner in Wuse market, while speaking with our reporter, the ‘Our Mumu don do’ group left its original point of gathering at the Unity Fountain having been faced with stiff opposition, disruption of activities and police brutality and decided to move its protest to Wuse market but had its move punctuated as they clashed with pro-Buhari group, adding that the clash nearly claimed lives.
Mrs. Janet said: “When the Charly Boy and his group came, they were welcomed by all the traders with a wide jubilation and the people were happy to see them campaign for the well-being of the people but the jubilation was short-lived as the Wuse Market security refused them entrance with physical confrontation between Chaly Boy and one Mr. Musa of Wuse market security”.
It was gathered that the confrontation between the security and Charly Boy-led group continued until the emergence of pro-Buhari supporters who appeared from the blues to disrupt and attack the Charly Boy group which made the whole place chaotic with traders and early morning buyers scampering for their lives.
Mrs. Janet further revealed that the situation saw a physical brawl between the two groups which also was targeted at the leader of the anti-Buhari group, Charly Boy, who was whisked away following the vicious attack which would have translated into unfortunate incident if not for the quick intervention of the police who shot sporadically into the air to disperse the crowd.
“Let me tell you, when this thing started, the police were looking at them and the whole thing would have been brought under control.” One Innocent Oguche, an apprentice, while speaking with The Daily Times also narrated thus:
“This whole thing began at 10.30 am in the morning when Charly Boy group approached the main gate of Wuse market and their coming was received by wide jubilation by the traders.
He then demanded entrance but was denied entrance by the security and that brought squabble between the security and the group. “But the quarrel escalated to a brawl as the chief security officer, known as Mr. Musa, landed a heavy slap on Charly Boy. The situation resulted in physical scuffle.
The arrival of pro-Buhari group, who emerged with sticks and other missiles to confront the anti-Buhari group, made things worse. “The situation, however, got out of hand with the Igbo traders attacking the seemingly Hausa pro-Buhari group and this resulted to fatal injuries on both sides as missiles of all kinds flew from one end to the other”.
Speaking shortly after the pandemonium, one of the leaders of anti-Buhari protesters, Deji Adeyanju, stated that President Buhari has better toe the way of integrity to either resign or comeback to resume duty as Nigerians are tired of the government’s antics.
Meanwhile, the popular Wuse market has come under lock and key with heavy security surveillance bringing economic activities to abrupt halt and leaving innocent traders with no option of when the market will be reopened for commercial activities.
When The reaction of FCT Police Public Relation Officer, Mr. Mamza was sought, he said the prompt intervention by police operatives averted a major clash between two opposing sides at Wuse market.
This was however contained in a statement made available to The Daily Times by the FCT Police Public Relation Officer, Mr. Mamza Anjuguri. The statement reads:
“The Police have brought the situation under control. To forestall further breakdown of law and order, the market management has ordered the closure of the market while a large contingent of policemen have been deployed to the market to provide security till further notice.”
