One person was shot dead while an Inspector with the Nigerian Police Force was reportedly stabbed, severally on the head in a clash at the famous Bodija market in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital.
The clash which has left the market deserted, had the market police station, a number of stores and at least 10 cars destroyed set ablaze.
The Commissioner of Police in Oyo state police, Mr Tambari Mohammed, who confirmed the incident, said five people including the man who led the arson have been arrested.
According to the Commissioner, the incident started on Thursday night when two members of the Hausa community engaged in a scuffle over a woman, adding that one of them was stabbed in the scuffle. “The suspect was said to have ran away while on Thursday morning he was arrested.”
The commissioner said some members of the community, who were armed with dangerous weapons and charms, came to the station on Friday morning and insisted that the suspect should be released to them.
He said that their request was turned down by the policemen on duty, who suggested that the suspect be left for interrogation.
“It was at point that one of the Hausa men brought out his sword to stab one of the policemen in the hand.
“The second policeman on duty, in self defence, shot and killed one of them.
“This action was said to have drawn the ire of members of the Hausa community in the area as they attacked the policemen and burnt the police station and set some of the shops ablaze,” Muhammed said.
Meanwhile, the Oyo state government has closed down the Bodija market till further notice.
