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Soldiers ravage market over
attack on colleague's wife
By Uduak
Iniodu
Correspondent,
Uyo
A
detachment of soldiers from the 6th Motorised Brigade, Ibagwa in Abak
Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, on Tuesday unleashed terror in
Abak Main Market destroying properties worth millions of naira, while more
than 20 people sustained injuries.
It was
learnt that the soldiers were angered by a report that traders in the
market manhandled the wife of one of their colleagues on
Monday.
The
soldiers ravaged the market. Many stalls were vandalised thus forcing the
traders to suspended commercial activities to check further destruction
and looting.
One of the
victims, Mr. Kufre Donatus Udofia said he was in his shop at No. 23,
Market Square about 9a.m when he noticed an unusual movement along the
street. "People were running in the different directions and on inquiry, I
learnt that soldiers were beating people and destroying shops.
"I
immediately ran for dear life, but unfortunately, I fell down and more
than four armed men descended on me beating me with horsewhip and they
knifed me."
The former
leader of the legislature in Abak Local Government, Mr. Offiong Charles
Inyang was also beaten up. Eye witness said he was relaxing opposite the
main motor park when the soldiers accosted him and attacked
him.
Speaking
with Daily Independent, the former Chairman, Abak Branch of Akwa Ibom
State Market Traders Community, Mr. Macaulay Fred said they were surprised
to see Armed Forces men in such large number in the market beating and
harassing traders on Tuesday. �As far as we are concerned the action of
the soldiers had no moral justification, because these are people who have
the responsibility to protect lives and properties of the citizenry. The
military personnel are people the civil populace should run to in times of
crisis but look at what we have received from them. So many properties
have been destroyed in the market, mostly at a time we are trying to
recover from the two recent fire disaster that destroyed properties worth
millions of naira.
Commenting
on the incident, the Chairman of the Market Traders Association, Mr. Paul
James Okponesip, expressed surprised and called on the relevant government
agencies in the state to intervene and bring the situation under
control.
Others who
spoke under conditions of anonymity condemned the soldiers action and
advised that the military personnel should also obey the rule of law and
channel their grievances to the police authority that has power to mediate
in any conflict involving the civil populace.
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