Not less than three people, including two women and a young boy, were murdered in a riot that erupted in Byazhin, Kubwa, Bwari Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory on Wednesday.
It was gathered that the riot started on Tuesday night, following a clash between some local scavengers popularly known as Baban bola, and community residents.
Trouble began when one of the bola boys attempted to steal a woman’s pot of soup on Tuesday evening but was overpowered and beaten up after the woman alerted neighbours and passers-by.
An eyewitness, who identified herself simply as Monica, told DAILY POST that when the scavenger was eventually released after a terrible beating, he went to mobilise hoodlums who returned to the scene wielding weapons including machetes.
According to the eyewitness, the hoodlums attacked residents of the area randomly leading to the killing of the woman.
Two other persons believed to be passers-by were also killed in the riot.
“Nobody slept in his or her house that night. The Baban bola people came with all kinds of weapons. They destroyed buildings just because one of them was beaten after attempting to steal a pot of soup.
“They killed two people that night and when they attacked the area on Wednesday morning, they killed another person making it three people that died.
“Many people were injured and have been rushed to the general hospital here in Kubwa,” she said.
It was further gathered that schools in the area were closed down on Wednesday morning as parents scampered to pick up their schoolchildren from their classrooms for safety.
Confirming the attack, the FCT Police Public Relations Officer, SP Josephine Adeh said several suspects had been arrested in connection to the violent attack, stressing that they “are currently being interrogated to ascertain their complicity”.
The PPRO noted that normalcy has since been restored in the area.