A clash between Fulani herdsmen and Hausa natives over a stolen motorcycle yesterday in Kubwa District of the Federal Capital Territory claimed one live while many others were injured.
The clash led to confusion as many of the residents panicked and locked themselves in.
The clash was said to havestarted at 3 a.m., when the motorcycle belonging to a Hausa man was allegedly stolen by Fulani herdsmen and then got heated up at 10a.m, when the stolen motorcycle was traced to the Fulani herdsman’s abode at Kubwa Extension II, off Arab Road, Abuja.
According to an eyewitness, it had become a recurring incident for the Fulanis who would rob commercial motorcyclists of their motorcycles.
“The Fulanis are fond of robbing Okada riders and stealing their motorcycles at Kubwa, especially on this Arab Road.
“They stopped the Okada man very close to the Glass church on Arab Road, macheted the rider and the passenger and stole his Okada only for it to be discovered that it was the Fulani herdsmen that carried out the robbery.
“In an attempt to protest the Fulani terrorism in the area, Okada riders, who were fed up with the constant attack on their colleagues, traced the Fulanis to where they live and argument occurred in the process,” he said.
The eyewitness further aaidthat the Fulanis had guns and other weapons which they fought the Hausas for daring to come to what they regarded as ‘their domain’, causing the Okada riders to retreat to equip themselves and return before the fight started.
Both sides sustained serious injuries, as the person that was badly injured was said to have been taken to Kubwa GeneralHospital where he died before he could be treated.
Investigations revealed that the Fulani herdsmen fled with their cows through the mountain behind their abode when they sighted over 100 Okada riders driving towards them to retaliate their injured and dead colleagues.
The FCT Police Commissioner, Mr Femi Ogunbayode, confirmed the clash, saying, however, that the situation was brought under control after a house belonging to the Fulanis was razed.
Personnel of the FCT Police Command, who were drafted to the scene of the clash, confirmed that one person died.
Policemen and officers have now been drafted to Kubwa and its environs to make sure there is no further breakdown in law and order.