BY VINCENT UJUMADU

AWKA – NO fewer than 10 people sustained injuries yesterday at the famous New Market Road, Onitsha, as some people who claimed to be members of  a task force against street trading clashed with traders selling rugs and carpets.

The street is noted for house furniture, especially rugs and carpets and traders from all parts of the country come there to make bulk purchases.

Trouble was said to have started when men of the task force confiscated four bundles of  carpet already paid for by a customer and when the traders confronted them, there was free for all, in which many people were injured.

The traders had insisted that they were neither trading on the street nor blocking the road, adding that the rugs bought by their customers were packed in front of their shops.

An eye witness said  as  argument lingered, a reinforcement of members of the task force arrived in an L 300 bus and swooped on all the traders, including women, hitting them with chairs and benches  found in front of the traders’ shops.

As the clash lasted, vehicular movement was grounded for about forty  minutes as people ran helter skelter to avoid being attacked.

The traders later regrouped and challenged members of the task force.

One of the injured traders, Mr. Ugochukwu Ugwu, who narrated the incident to Vanguard, said he was in front of his shop when members of the task force rushed to him and started hitting him with a bench and, in the process, inflicted a deep cut on his back and hands.

Another victim, Mr. Monday Orji who said the area was synonymous with rugs and carpets, wondered how people who were in their shops could be dubbed street traders, adding that the manner of operation of the task force had become a source of worry to residents and visitors to the commercial city.

However, what could have resulted in a serious bloodshed was averted by Onitsha Police Area Commander, Mr Larry Osita, who hurriedly sent his men to the area to calm frayed nerves on both sides.