Affected Traders Count Losses As Abuja’s Wuse Market Remains Closed After Riot

The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has shut down the popular Wuse market following Tuesday’s riot and fire outbreak.

But no official statement was issued on the closure of the market.

Findings revealed that FCTA closed the market to gather detailed report and assessment of what happened and to carry out some renovations.

Affected traders have been counting their losses.

Mary Obiorah, who spoke with our correspondent, said she sells clothes and all of them were burnt to ashes.

She said It was painful she lost everything to the inferno.

Another trader who sells watches, Ibrahim Sule, said he was still in shock over what happened.

Sule said: “I will be happy if the government can assist those that were affected. It has not been easy since I lost everything to the fire incident”.

The situation around the market is tense,l as some angry persons who refused to leave were seen discussing.

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Security operatives, especially officers of the Nigeria Police Force and the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) were seen at the entrance and around the market trying to maintain law and order.

The Nation had reported how angry youths set parts of the popular market on fire after a correctional officer allegedly shot a 17-year-old hawker dead inside the market.

According to the information, the victim who was being tried at the mobile court in the market, had attempted to run away but was allegedly shot and killed by a prison Warden.

The office of the Abuja Markets Management Limited (AMML) inside the market and some vehicles parked at the car park were affected by the fire.