[Mhiz Rebecca]

Tension was high at the Garki Area of Enugu State on Wednesday
following a deadly clash between the Fulani and the Igbos.
Already, the police in the state confirmed to DAILY POST that two
persons were killed during the bloody clash.
The deceased persons were identified as one Ali, a Fulani and Ifeanyi
Ifeacho, an Igbo.
The incident is coming few days after a policeman was killed at the
New Artisan Market, prompting the closure of the market by the State
Government.
According to an eyewitness, trouble started when Ali came from the
New Artisan Market with a cow to slaughter in the Gariki abattoir.
He disclosed that “Ali came to Gariki abattoir where Ifeanyi worked
as attendant to slaughter his cow, following the closure of New
Artisan Market by the state government early this week.
“When Ali finished slaughtering his cow, he gave Ifeanyi N400
instead of the N500 fee for slaughtering a cow in the abattoir.
“Ifeanyi asked him to give him the remaining N100 but the Fulani
man remained adamant, insisting that he would not pay any other
money.
“The misunderstanding degenerated to a fight between the two.”
It was gathered that Ali quickly pulled out a dagger and stabbed
Ifeanyi severally on the stomach.
Ifeanyi slumped on the ground and died on the spot.
“When he realized what he had done, he (Ali) attempted to escape
from the market but some outraged Igbo traders grabbed him and
killed him in turn.
“The angry Igbo traders mobilized and burnt down the mosque
inside Gariki market.”
The Spokesman for Enugu State Police Command, SP Ebere
Amaraizu, who had earlier confirmed the incident through a text
message to our correspondent, said the command deployed anti-riot
policemen to Gariki market immediately to stop the situation from
escalating.
He stated that: “Two persons were confirmed dead during a clash
between an Easterner and a Northerner over an alleged
misunderstanding that arose between them in the evening at Gariki
Awkunanaw Market.
“Security has been beefed up in the area by Enugu State
Commissioner of Police, Douglas Agbonleni, to avoid escalation and
breakdown of law and order, just as a full scale investigation has
commenced into the incident.”