A major fire has engulfed parts of the popular Wuse Market in Abuja, the nation’s capital, following a confrontation between police officers and a young man they were attempting to arrest.
According to eyewitness accounts shared with THE WHISTLER, the incident began when an individual identified only as Musa invited the police to apprehend an unnamed young man at the market.
As the officers tried to make the arrest, the young man resisted, leading to a scuffle that drew a crowd of onlookers.
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In an effort to disperse the gathering crowd, the police officers reportedly fired tear gas canisters into a nearby shop. However, the canisters exploded and inadvertently ignited a fire that quickly spread Through Old Extension part of the market.
Angered by the police’s actions, some members of the crowd set fire to four vehicles parked in front of a nearby police station located inside the market premises, near Fidelity Bank.
“Yes, the Wuse Market is on fire. The fire is burning at the old extension side, near the pipeline where they sell bags.
“It was the police who fired tear gas, and the tear gas caused the fire. It was a confrontation between the police and some individuals,” the eyewitness told THE WHISTLER.
In the aftermath of the incident, THE WHISTLER gathered that Musa, who initially invited the police, fled the market to his home along Kaduna Road in Abuja.
However, a group of angry individuals, described as “Hausa Boys,” have mobilized themselves to apprehend Musa at his residence.
Efforts to reach the Federal Fire Service’s public relations officer, Paul Abraham, for comment on the ongoing fire and response efforts have been unsuccessful thus far.