By Muhammad Sulaiman
Tensions erupted at the Bariki Market in Enugu State when a group of Igbo butchers reportedly confronted and attacked their Hausa counterparts over a disagreement tied to meat prices.
According to eyewitnesses, the incident began when Hausa butchers allegedly sold their meat at lower prices, a move that some Igbo traders viewed as undercutting the market. The disagreement escalated into a physical altercation, resulting in injuries and disruption of business activities in the area.
Observers have noted that Igbo traders operate freely across markets in Kano and other parts of northern Nigeria, with no reports of similar incidents. Some commentators expressed concern that the Enugu clash had not received widespread media attention, suggesting that the coverage might have been more prominent had the situation been reversed. However, a video clip of the clashes has been widely shared on social media in Northern Nigeria.
There are also concerns that, in other contexts, such disputes risk being misrepresented as ethnic or communal violence, further heightening tensions.
Market authorities and local security agencies are yet to issue an official statement on the incident.