Why IPOB, Hausa Traders Clashed In Port Harcourt- Town Council Chairman

Chairman of the Rumuokwurushi Town Council (RTC) Landlords of the Oil Mill Market in Port Harcourt, Chief Clifford Wali, has explained the clash between members of Indigenous People of Biafra and the Hausa community in the area on Wednesday.

He said some members of IPOB who were coming to attack the Elelenwo Police Station were stopped by the Hausa Community which resides behind the station.

An unconfirmed number of shops were said to have been raided and razed down in the wake of the mayhem that followed and the area is currently observing a 24-hour curfew imposed by the Rivers State Government.

Chief Wali, who spoke to THE WHISTLER, said “The trouble started when members of IPOB allegedly attempted to attack the police station at Elelenwo, but were blocked by the Hausas who stay close to the station.

“The Hausas feared if they allowed them access to the station, their mosque may also be touched.

“Two persons lost their lives from both sides in the mayhem that ensued and escalated to some parts of Rumuokwurushi.

“If not for the timely directive restraining Rumuokwurushi youths from retaliating the provocation, the crisis would have snowballed.
The Hausas set the shops on fire after overpowering the IPOB Members.”

Chief Wali lamented that several calls made to the police and soldiers who were patrolling in the community were not answered.

He also added that he called the Obio/Akpor Local Government Chairman and the councilor representing the area but they allegedly did not respond.

“I was calling everybody. Even the LGA Chairman I called him, he rejected my call. I sent him text no reply. I called the Councilor and told him what was happening. I saw military men passing and told them and they refused to follow me. I thought they would have responded but they did not. So it was unfortunate.

“I called Police, I called their control room, no assistance. If we had mobilized our people, it would have resulted in a lot of deaths because those Hausas were armed”.

But reacting, one of the leaders of the Hausa community, Alhaji Usman Ahmad, who spoke to the THE WHISTLER, said his people acted in self defence.

He said : “We observed that the Ibos targeted our Mosque to get it burnt down, but we were proactive to act quickly and mobilized ourselves to stop the attack.

“Initially we were peaceful as we intended asking them to retreat and leave us alone but they came with full force and well armed.

“They attacked us first before we retaliated. We lost three of our brothers to the attack and their corpses have been buried already.

“Our shops have been burnt down and information reaching us this morning is that they are coming again today.” He said.