TheCable

There was an outbreak of violence in Kabala west area of Kaduna metropolis on Monday, following the killing of a suspected house burglar.

Some angry residents reportedly killed the suspect on Sunday and abandoned his corpse. His relations and friends were said to have found the corpse on Monday morning.

This resulted in a clash that lasted for hours. Traders were forced to close their shops, while motorists plying the ever-busy Nnamdi Azikiwe bypass took other routes.

Many were said to have sustained injuries as a result of the objects that the aggrieved individuals were hurling at one another.

The government had to respond by deploying police and soldiers in the area.

Samuel Aruwan, spokesman of Nasir el-Rufai, governor of Kaduna, said, the situation was brought under control by the security operatives deployed there.

The state police command has declared a manhunt for the perpetrators of the unrest.

Aliyu Usman, spokesman of the command, disclosed this to reporters.

“We are working towards arresting the offenders,” he said.

Meanwhile, some residents who fled as a result of the violence have been unable to return home as security personnel have blocked the way leading to the community.

“Some of us cannot go back home since we managed to escape from the area in the morning because soldiers and police have blocked the roads leading to our houses,” a resident said.

“Those residents that left for work in the morning have to call back home to their families to remain indoors while those that have left the house are asked to look for a safer place within the city centre and stay.

“It is unfortunate that people are linking the fracas to religion, but I want to tell you that it has nothing to do with religion at all, a thief was lynched to death and his so-called friends decided to take the law into their hands.

“We are, however, happy that security people intervened immediately, and normalcy is being restored as I speak to you.”