DSC5691 It was gathered that when some of the butchers who saw what happened came to ask the soldiers what the matter was, the trigger happy soldiers shot and killed another butcher. The soldiers, according to witnesses, after killing the butchers, whisked four others away. This angered the butchers and joined by other people, they embarked on massive protest which shook the city. The protest later took religious and ethnic colouration, as the protesters matched towards the Mosque on Hospital Road, but were dispersed by soldiers who kept watch over the edifice. Some Hausas in the city had to take refuge in the area command of the Nigerian police to avoid being attacked. When our reporter visited the abattoir, tears flowed freely from people around as they mourned the death of their colleagues. The commanding officer of the 14 brigade, Ohafia, Brig. General Lawrence Fejokwu, said the report he got was that soldiers went to the abattoir over a leadership tussle in the association which led to the fracas. IMG_20160505_161909 Information has it that the situation which started taking ethnic and religious coloration forced many Hausas to flee for safety at the nearest police division, while security agencies moved into areas domiciled by the Hausas with their Hilux vans and moved them to the Aba Area Command where they were said to be taking refuge in the event of any reprisal attack. When our reporter visited the Aba abattoir at Waterside, Mosque by Hospital road and other flash points within the metropolis, Hilux vans of various security agencies were stationed at strategic points to apparently forestall any breakdown of law and order or hoodlums ceasing the opportunity to unleash mayhem on residents. ]]>