A section of a timber market in Dei Dei, a suburb of Abuja, was gutted by fire following a clash between traders in the aftermath of a woman’s death.
Many traders suffered huge losses as a result of the fight.
It was gathered that the clash assumed ethnic dimension between Igbo traders and northern youths as the woman, who fell off a commercial motorcycle, was crushed to death by an articulated vehicle.
Another version said the woman was hit by an okada man.
A mob set the motorcycle ablaze, an action which resulted in a counter-reaction from the commercial motorcyclists.
The okada men reportedly mobilised in large numbers and attacked the traders, setting the timber market, mainly owned by Igbo traders, on fire.
One of the traders, Obiora Nnaemeka, said he lost timber worth over a billion naira in the incident.
Irate youths yesterday burnt fire fighting equipment and the office of the Federal Fire Service in Abuja following the outbreak of hostilities amongst traders and the commercial motorbike riders.
The FFS authorities condemned the attack on their station which was not within the market area where the incident erupted.
FFS spokesman Paul Abraham said the attack by the hoodlums led to the destruction of several parts of its station and firefighting trucks.
The PRO said Controller General, Abdulganiyu Jaji decried the actions of the mob.
He, however, encouraged his men not to give up in their determination to safe lives and property.