By Gabriel Okhao
Tension quickly escalated on Tuesday in the Ekosodin community, Benin City, after a tricycle driver, believed to be an indigene, reportedly collided with the wheelbarrow of an “Aboki” (a Hausa-speaking trader), tragically causing the pedestrian’s death.
The incident sparked immediate outrage and reprisals from other “Aboki” dwellers in the community, who allegedly mobilised, assaulted the tricycle driver, and facilitated his arrest.
In response, Ekosodin indigenes and tricycle drivers attempted to appeal to the angry “Aboki” dwellers in an effort to resolve the issue.
However, tensions escalated further as the “Aboki” group reportedly regrouped, armed themselves with deadly weapons, and attacked the indigenes. They also allegedly set fire to a bus intended to transport the indigenes to safety.
In retaliation, Ekosodin indigenes began protesting the attack by closing down shops owned by “Aboki” dwellers in the area. They have threatened to forcibly eject the non-indigenous residents from the community if they do not leave voluntarily.
Moments later, normalcy was reported to be gradually returning to the community as the local vigilante group intervened in the ongoing confrontation between the two groups.
Meanwhile, suya joints, Indomie spots, and shops selling perishable goods (such as tomatoes, peppers, onions, and meat), which are predominantly owned by non-indigenes, remain closed.