Update: Businesses Closed As Soldiers, Butchers Clash In Aba

Economic and business activities were on Thursday in Aba, the commercial nerve of Abia State shutdown as butchers at Popular Waterside, along Aba-Ikot Ekpene road clashed with soldiers for

allegedly killing two of their members.The incident which occurred between the hours of 12pm or thereabouts caused pandemonium within the area and Ogbor Hill axis causing many business owners
to close for businesses as they feared that the situation could take another dimension and fear of massive arrest by the security agencies.It was gathered that some butchers that sustained injuries as a result of the gunshots and sporadic shootings were taken to different hospitals within the metropolis where they are receiving medical attention as at the time of filing this report.Information has it that the situation which started taking ethnic and religious coloration forced many Hausas to flee for safety at the nearest police division, while security agencies moved into areas domiciled by the Hausas with their Hilux vans and moved them to the Aba Area Command where they were said to be taking refuge in the event of any reprisal attack.When our reporter visited the Aba abattoir at Waterside, Mosque by Hospital road and other flash points within the metropolis, Hilux vans of various security agencies were stationed at strategic points to apparently forestall any breakdown of law and order or hoodlums ceasing the opportunity to unleash mayhem on residents.
The Nation