Not fewer than three persons are feared dead and several cars set ablaze as Hausa and Yoruba traders clashed at the popular Mile 12 Market in Lagos State
Eyewitness accounts say that at least three people have died, while security operatives are battling to get the violence under control.
Huge plumes of smoke can been seen bellowing from a distance as houses have been set ablaze.
Residents of the area have remained indoors for fear of being attacked.
No one has been able to give reasons for the crisis as at the time of this report.
The Lagos State Government has closed down the markets in the area temporarily, and has vowed to deal with miscreants and law breakers.
The State Government is also appealing to parents to ensure that their wards are law abiding.
It was gathered that the foundation for the clash was laid on Tuesday after a Hausa commercial bike rider knocked down a woman.
The bike rider was told to take the woman to the hospital, but the rider and his colleagues refused.
They insisted that the motorbike association, which collects tolls from them, should take care of the woman. There was heated argument, which led to a fight.
The fighting continued all through Wednesday till Thursday (today) when some thugs, believed to be of Yoruba origin, invaded the market and started attacking the Hausas.
They burnt seven cars and killed three Hausa traders.
The Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni; the Commander of the Rapid Response Squad, Olatunji Disu; the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operation, Lagos State Police Command; and teams of policemen were still at the scene as at the time of writing the post.
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