By Uzoma Akobundu
Commercial activities were brought to a halt on Friday at the Gida Panli, Kotomola area of Ojota New Garage in Lagos following a spill over of a quarrel that started on Thursday between some persons believed to be Hausa and Yoruba youths.
The clash was basically between the popular street urchins (area boys) among the two ethnic groups who took to free for all when an Hausa youth reportedly beat up his Yoruba counterpart that Thursday over a minor disagreement.
It was learnt that some area boys in the place were said to have avenged the assault on the Yoruba youth, leading to the clash which spilled over to Friday morning.
In the process, motor bikes and other valuables were destroyed just as commercial activities were stalled with panic enveloping the whole place leading to the police being drafted to maintain the peace.
A commercial driver in the area, Wale Ajayi, said: “There was a misunderstanding yesterday (Thursday) between a Yoruba and Hausa youth. The Hausa guy reported him to some area boys in the area and they settled the issue.
“Afterwards, he went to attack the Yoruba man and beat him up. That made the area boys to be angry. They attacked the Hausa man and the clash started. Traders had to vacate the area and many Hausa people had been chased away.
“I learnt some people were killed, but I am not sure of the number yet. Police have been trying to restore normalcy.”
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Chike Oti, confirmed the clash and said normalcy had returned.
He said he was not yet aware of the report of people killed, assuring that investigation as ordered by the Commissioner of Police, Edgal Imonihi, would unravel what actually caused the clash.