A violent clash between Hausa and Igbo youths erupted on Wednesday morning around the Iyanga Market area of Asaba, following tensions that began the previous night after an alleged theft incident.
According to eyewitnesses, the unrest started when a young Hausa man was reportedly caught stealing by local youths. He was beaten and later released, but the situation escalated when he allegedly returned the next morning with a group of reinforcements.
Residents said the group launched coordinated attacks behind the Iyanga Market, assaulting passersby and snatching mobile phones. Several individuals were reportedly attacked with machetes, leaving them with deep cuts and severe injuries.
Panic spread quickly through the area as traders and residents fled for safety.
By mid-morning, the confrontation had disrupted commercial activities in and around the market, forcing many shops to shut down. Witnesses described the scene as chaotic, with both groups hurling weapons and engaging in running battles along adjoining streets.
Security operatives were later deployed to restore calm, dispersing the crowd and securing the market axis. Authorities have not yet confirmed the number of injured persons or whether any arrests have been made.
Community leaders have since called for restraint, urging both groups to avoid further escalation and allow law enforcement agencies to investigate the incident.
The Iyanga Market area, known for its mixed population and busy commercial activity, has experienced tensions in the past, but residents say the scale of Wednesday’s clash was unusually severe.
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