A violent clash erupted at Lot 2 International Market, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, on Wednesday, as a market ticket taskforce engaged in a heated confrontation with a soldier, leaving both parties injured.
The soldier, identified as Nwuzor Elias, sustained injuries alongside several taskforce members during the altercation, which quickly escalated into chaos.
Eyewitnesses revealed that trouble started when the taskforce demanded N5,000 from the soldier as a mandatory loading and offloading fee. Elias, who insisted he was only at the market to make purchases, refused to comply, sparking an argument.
“The ticket officials attacked me because I refused to pay N5,000. I told them I wasn’t loading or offloading anything, just buying goods. I even identified myself as a soldier, but they told me they didn’t care, saying I should go to Port Harcourt if I wanted to do soldier work. They claimed they were also Biafra soldiers,” the injured soldier narrated from his hospital bed.
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The situation spiraled out of control as the taskforce allegedly descended on him, inflicting injuries before he managed to escape and report the incident at the barracks.
In retaliation, soldiers stormed the market in search of the assailants, arresting one of them, while others fled upon hearing of the military’s arrival.
The incident has heightened tension in the market, sparking fears of further clashes as authorities move to restore order.
