Chaos erupted at Banex plaza in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) in Abuja on Saturday when a group of soldiers and traders engaged in a violent altercation.
The dispute, according to a trader named Ola, stemmed from a disagreement over the sale of a mobile phone. The incident caused great concern among shop owners, who feared for their safety amidst the commotion.
The situation escalated rapidly, prompting passersby to flee in order to avoid any potential escalation of violence and the subsequent breakdown of law and order in the vicinity.
Ola provided further details, stating that the soldiers had approached the traders to voice their grievances about the phone, which ultimately led to a heated argument and physical confrontation.
A video that went viral on X showed civilians overpowering some of the soldiers during the brawl at Banex plaza. In response to the incident, the Commissioner of Police, Benett Igweh, swiftly deployed officers from the FCT Intelligence Response Team to the scene, as confirmed by FCT Police Command spokesman SP Josephine Adeh.
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Despite efforts to gather information, the Defence Headquarters and the Army spokesperson, Onyema Nwachukwu, were unavailable for comment at the time of press.
However, additional security personnel were present to support the police in their efforts to restore order and ensure the safety of the area.
As a result of the altercation, several shops were forced to close temporarily. However, as of the time of filing this report, normalcy had been restored to the area.
The incident serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining peace and harmony in public spaces, and the need for effective communication and conflict resolution to prevent such incidents from occurring in the future.
