Ethnic clash: Uneasy calm in Abuja as Police intensify surveillance

• One feared dead, FCT CP meets traditional rulers on truce

By Stanley Onyekwere

There was an uneasy calm on the streets of Abuja, the nation’s capital city, following yesterday’s ethnic clash between some Hausa and Gbagyi communities in Gwarinpa District of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
It was gathered that the ethnic violence, seen as a reprisal attack that occured along the busy 3rd Avenue axis of Gwarinpa on Monday, was not unconnected to squabble between some Hausa and Gbagyi Youths in the area, in the evening of Saturday, 22nd April, 2023.
Although, there were unconfirmed reported deaths and injuries to scores of people, on both sides including other residents and traders in the areas affected, but the Police in FCT confirmed death of one youth, while another was grievously wounded.
It was gathered that the warring youths armed with sticks, stones, bottles and other sharp objects thronged the streets, and resorted to attacking people and property on sight, even as people scampered for safety.
However, despite the restoration of normalcy to the area, due to deployment of heavy security operatives from Police, Military, DSS, NSCDC and other paramilitary agencies, there was still palpable tension, and fear of it spreading to some parts of the FCT, especially places occupied by Hausas and the Gbagyi natives.
Meanwhile, reacting to the incident, a statement from the Police Public Relations Officer for the FCT Police Command, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed that the Police have arrested one person and intensified surveillance patrols, to ensure that it does not further escalate.
Adeh, added that the Ag. Commissioner of Police for the FCT, DCP Ahmed Musa had met with traditional rulers of both the Hausa and Gbagyi communities in Gwarinpa, to broker peace between both groups, deliberate on possible collaborations necessary to keep the youths in check and check trouble makers in the communities.
Also, the Police revealed that the fracas between the two groups which caused the grievous wounding of two (2) youths who were conveyed to the hospital where one was eventually declared dead after attempts to attend to his wounds failed, led to the arrest of one suspect who is currently assisting the Police in their investigations to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the affray.
The statement read: “Following mild tension along 3rd Avenue at the Gwarinpa axis of the Federal Capital Territory due to a squabble between some Hausa and Gbagyi Youths on Saturday 22nd April, 2023, and the subsequent mobilization and deployment of operatives from the FCT Police Command to the affected areas to douse the tension and effect necessary arrests,
“The Acting Commissioner of Police in charge of the FCT has charged the Traditional Rulers to consistently encourage the youths to imbibe peace and pursue grievances through the legally approved channels rather than taking laws into their hands.
“He urges all well-meaning residents of the FCT to go about their lawful businesses and report all suspicious activities, persons, or groups via Command emergency lines”.
On his part, AMAC Chairman, Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu has appealed to all residents of the district to remain calm and law abiding.
Maikalangu, in a statement by his Senior Special Assistant media and Public Affairs, Kingsley Madaki, warned persons against taking the law into their hands and perpetrating any acts of violence.
The chairman further called on traditional and religious leaders to also intervene and ensure there was peace within the area.
According to him, the government condemns in strong terms this unfortunate situation and commiserates with the affected citizens and their families, and others that lost their property and valuables.
“The government therefore wishes to categorically warn citizens against mob action. No one will be allowed to conduct themselves in an arbitrary manner. Impunity has no place in this Council.
“There are designated agencies vested with the duty of law enforcement, and citizens cannot usurp their roles; rather it is the duty of all citizens to report infractions of the law and help to prevent or detect crime. There can be no recourse to self-help.
“Only constituted authorities and security agencies have the statutory right and the constitutional mandate to enforce compliance to the law”, he said.