Five people killed in Lagos mile 12 market crisis.

The scene of the clash on Thursday. Photo: Precious Igbomwulendu

At least five persons were on Thursday killed in an apparent ethnic tussle at the popular Mile 12 Market in Lagos.

The clash which grounded business activities and hampered traffic flow for over three hours reportedly started on Wednesday night.

Several persons including police officers were also injured, just as buildings were razed.

Inner room  gathered that trouble started on Thursday morning after members of the Hausa community in the market stormed the Agiliti area to avenge the death of a motorcyclist.

Our correspondent learnt that the unnamed motorcyclist was assaulted with a cutlass by a Yoruba man and he died on Thursday morning.

The deceased Hausa man reportedly had an altercation with hoodlums and as he tried to drive off, he unknowingly hit the woman.

And following his refusal to part with ‘ticket money’, he was allegedly beaten up by the hoodlums who saw the accident as an opportunity to strike.

This attracted the fury of his colleagues and kinsmen who engaged the hoodlums in a free for all.

But the news of his death on Thursday morning allegedly reignited the fight with some mercenaries imported through the PSP truck.

Our correspondent saw some young men carting away rams whose owners have fled to safety, 
while others armed with bottles, cutlasses and sticks took over the entire road.

Vehicles were vandalised, shops looted as people rushed into moving vehicles just to leave the scene of the crisis.

Firemen trying to put off an inferno were stopped by the hoodlums.

It took the intervention of soldiers who came to the area in three vans before peace could be restored to the area.