Ethnic clash: Uneasy calm in Abuja as Police intensify surveillance

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.