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Monday, August 5, 2013

Update: 30 Vehicles Damaged in Sunday's Abuja Clashes



At least 30 vehicles were damaged in Sunday clashes between commercial motorcycle operators and soldiers on guard at the St. Mary Catholic Church, Karu, of the Federal Capital Territory in Abuja.
The journalists have found out that the incident started around 1 p.m. after one of the soldiers allegedly found a dagger on one of the motorcycle riders as the result of personal search.

The man was said to have hidden the knife in his clothes and attempted to go into the church premises.


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The church’s Chief Security Officer, Mr. Eugine Uba, told the newsmen that the commercial motorcycle operator mobilised his colleagues to attack the soldiers after he was punished and allowed to go.

“In the process of searching him, a knife was found on the man. When asked what he wanted to do with the knife, the man threatened to kill anybody who dared come close to him,” he said.

Mr. Uba said that the commercial motorcycle operator and his colleagues barricaded the Nyanya-Karshi road, set fires and attacked vehicles as well as passersby.

The clashes led to a heavy traffic jam in the area; as more armed soldiers and anti-riot police were deployed to the neighbourhood restore peace.

The soldiers and policemen were forced to fire warning shots, as well as tear gas to disperse the rampaging motorcycle operators.

Many worshippers who were trapped in the area scampered to all directions for safety.

The FCT Police Public Relations Officer, Ms. DSP Altine Daniel, confirmed the incident, said that normalcy had been restored.

“What actually happened was that there was a misunderstanding between a soldier and a motorcycle operator.

“After the misunderstanding, the operator went to mobilise his colleagues, who wanted to escalate the situation, but the prompt intervention of security operatives saved the situation,” she said.

Ms. Daniel said that there was no casualty in the incident.

She, however, said that investigations into the cause of the incident had begun.

(NAN)

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