At least three people were feared killed and more than five others injured in a clash that involved some Gbagyi and Hausa youths in the 3rd Avenue area of Gwarinpa, Abuja.
The Federal Capital Territory Police Command, however, said only one person died in the clash.
The clash, which continued on Monday, was said to have been on for three days.
PUNCH Metro learnt that officials of the Federal Capital Territory Joint Security Taskforce succeeded in restoring normalcy to the area on Monday.
Our correspondent gathered that crisis erupted on Saturday evening in one of the areas in Gwarinpa populated by Gbagyi natives.
A source privy to the incident told our correspondent that the riot broke out following a coordinated attack by hoodlums, mostly commercial tricycles operators and drug peddlers on the home of a local politician who lives in the community.
“This was followed by a reprisal by some Gbagyi people in the community, and about three people have been killed, while more than five people have been seriously injured,” the source added.
Meanwhile, eyewitnesses who spoke to our correspondent on Monday disclosed that the crisis broke out following the alleged discovery by some suspected drug peddlers that somebody was working as an informant to security operatives who are on their trail.
“The discovery prompted the drug peddlers to attack the alleged informant and the situation escalated until Monday when security operatives intervened, but three people have died so far,” an eyewitness said.
Meanwhile, findings by our correspondent revealed that some injured residents were admitted at the Federal Road Safety Corp Medical Centre, Gwarinpa.
Medical practitioners at the FRSCMC confirmed that at least two people were killed during the clash, while there are others in critical condition, and have been referred to the National Hospital.
Meanwhile, the acting Commissioner of Police, FCT Command, DCP Ahmed Musa, on Monday, met with leaders of the Gbagyi and Hausa communities in the area to broker peace.
This was as the command confirmed one death and an arrest.
The command’s spokesperson, SP Josephine Adeh, disclosed this in a statement made available to journalists.
Adeh said, “The acting CP for the FCT, DCP Ahmed Musa, has met with traditional rulers of both the Hausa and Gbagyi communities in Gwarinpa at his office in the command headquarters to broker peace between both groups, deliberate on possible collaboration necessary to keep the youth in check and oust troublemakers in the communities.
“The fracas between the two groups which caused the grievous wounding of two youths who were conveyed to the hospital where one was eventually declared dead after attempts to attend to his wounds failed, led to the arrest of one suspect who is currently assisting the police in their investigations to ascertain the immediate and remote causes of the affray.”
She added that the CP has urged the traditional rulers to encourage youths to explore legal means to settle grievances
