Wuse Market in Abuja Closed Down Following Riot and Fire Outbreak

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has taken the decision to close down the bustling Wuse Market in Abuja after a tumultuous incident that unfolded on Tuesday, instigating a riot and subsequent fire outbreak.

As tensions ran high, the scene at the market remained unsettled, with some individuals adamantly refusing to vacate the premises, holding onto bottles and sticks as a show of defiance.

Law enforcement personnel from the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were deployed to the area to maintain peace and order amidst the fraught situation.

The closure of the market stems from an episode where enraged youths set ablaze sections of the market following reports of the alleged fatal shooting of a 17-year-old hawker by the police during a confrontation on Tuesday.

The tragic incident reportedly occurred when the young hawker, who was undergoing a trial at the mobile court within the market, attempted to flee and was purportedly shot and killed by a prison official.

According to sources at the scene, the unrest was sparked when officials from the Nigerian Correctional Centre descended on the market to apprehend a suspect, leading to a deadly altercation that resulted in the fatal shooting.

The chaos that ensued led to parts of the market being set ablaze, with even the office of the Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) on the premises, as well as some parked vehicles, being caught in the fire, escalating an already volatile situation.

While no management personnel from the market were present during the commotion, an anonymous Chief Security Officer recounted the sequence of events that culminated in the riot and subsequent fire outbreak.

Following the tragic events, the Police commissioner of the FCT Police Command, Benedict Igweh, confirmed that the Correctional Officer responsible for the fatal shooting of the handcuffed convict has been taken into custody for questioning as investigations into the incident continue.

Addressing concerns over the security status in Abuja, Igweh assured the public that calm and normalcy had been restored to the Wuse Market area, with security measures heightened to prevent further turmoil.