ONE DEAD, TWO INJURED AS RIVAL GROUPS CLASH IN BENIN

One person was on Thursday feared dead while two others were injured following a fierce battle between two rival groups operating as ticketers at the busy Lagos Street area of the Oba Market in Benin, the Edo State capital.

Commercial activities were completely grounded as market women and other traders scampered for safety.

Some policemen and soldiers were seen at the scene of the clash while teargas cannisters were fired to disperse the warring groups and restore normalcy to the area.

It was gathered that trouble stated when a disagreement ensued between the two groups over the number of people issuing tickets from each group to traders in the market.

It was learnt that one of the groups, identified as the Obaze, had approached the other group known as the Osunla to harmonise the number of ticketers from the two groups and the areas of operation within the market.

But the Osunla group, which was said to have the most number of revenue collectors, rejected the request leading to a heated argument.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that the argument escalated into a free-for-all, with dangerous weapons brandished, when a member of the Osunlas allegedly shot at a member of the rival group.

A vehicle was also set on fire during the fierce battle.

The source, who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent that the gunshot victim was rushed to an undisclosed hospital in a critical condition.

“The Osunla and Obaze families control Lagos Street market. They issue tickets to traders here for revenue collection.

“The Obaze group complained that they have only five people issuing ticket while the Osunla people have 18.

“So, they went to meet them (Osunla) to make everything equal. But the Osunla refused and they started fighting.

“Somebody from the Osunla group shot a member of the Obaze group and another person was seriously injured and rush to the hospital,”  the source said.

Confirming the incident, the Edo State Commissioner of Police, Foluso Adebanjo, who visited the scene of the incident, told our correspondent on the telephone that  some arrests had been made.

He, however, did not disclose the number of people apprehended by the command.

“The clash was about revenue sharing. But arrests have been made. That’s all,” the CP said.