Apata area of Ibadan was thrown into pandemonium as at least three policemen were injured alongside when suspected touts unleashed terror on the area over sale of “faulty new” handset.
Trouble started when one of the attackers was alleged to have bought a handset from an Igbo trader but discovered that it was not in good condition. But in an attempt to return the handset, the trader refused to accept it, claiming that it was purchased in good condition.
The refusal, according to an eyewitness who pleaded anonymity, provoked the buyer who then mobilised his group who were alleged to have been armed with dangerous weapons around the area to fight back.
According to the witness “The buyer is a Yoruba man and an ‘agbero’ who got angry after discovering that the handset he just bought was not good. The Igbo trader stood his ground that he would not accept the handset. Before now, there were an unreported enmity between the Igbo traders in the area and some suspected miscreants who collect ‘settlement’ from the traders and commercial drivers regularly.
“The buyer left but returned with many touts who attacked the traders and chased them away. They also attacked other people while three policemen were injured.”
The policemen, according to the eyewitness, were injured in their bid to broker peace between the warring factions.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Oyo State Police Command, DSP Adekunle Ajisebutu, confirmed the incident. He said the police command was aware of the trouble in the area, saying it was sparked by the illegal money some miscreants collected from commercial drivers.
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