Police and other security agencies last Sunday foiled attempts by hoodlums who hijacked a peaceful protest by traders at Ikoku spare parts market, Port Harcourt last Sunday to vandalize a lotto company after accusing the Management of the Company of been among the buyers of the sold portion of the market.
Our correspondent reports that trouble started when some traders alleged that they saw a Management staff of the lotto company at the site where two bulldozers were brought in last Sunday to demolish the sold portion of the market.
Some hoodlums who wanted to take advantage of the situation had mobilized and went to the lotto company with intent of destroying and looting the place before they were dispersed by the Police
Spare parts dealers at the market had told our reporter that they stormed the place in their numbers on Sunday after they received information that two bulldozers have been brought in to demolish the sold portion of the market.
The traders disclosed that they stopped the people from demolishing the place because the time extension given to them as agreed in a meeting with the Government has not elapsed.
We learned that there was Pandemonium as the spare parts dealers allegedly threw stones at people who came to demolish the place and the people hurriedly left the place with security operatives attached to them
But for the timely intervention of Police and Army, the situation would have degenerated to full scale violence.
In the meantime, calm has returned to the area as there is heavy security presence.
