Timber Market: Police React to Allegation of Destruction

The Anambra State Police Command has denied it’s involvement in a fire incident at Nnewi Timber market on Wednesday stating that the claim was false.

Recall that the Nnewi Timber market was set on fire on Wednesday allegedly by the Nigerian Police who were pursuing Indian hemp smokers.

The Police, through its spokesperson, Haruna Mohammed, disclosed that the report is not only false but misleading with the tendency of creating tension and anarchy in the State.

It wrote, “For the avoidance of doubt, on 17/2/2021 at about 10:am a cult group and drugs sellers had a clash at 100-foot road Nnewi, causing serious pandemonium in the area. Following the report, police patrol teams in conjunction with local vigilante group quickly mobilised to the scene and arrested four suspects on the spot to trigger the remaining hoodlums blocked the road and set the fire on the sawdust in a bid to prevent the police from taking the suspects to the station.

The fire overwhelmed the people who tried to put it off which extended to the timber market. As a result, a police patrol vehicle attached to Otolo Division and three vehicles belonging to the Vigilante groups were stoned by the rampaging youth.

Meanwhile, normalcy was restored in the area and a total of 35 suspects were arrested. Exhibits recovered include Axe, dried leaves suspected to be cannabis Sativa and a motorcycle. The recorder shares the video online to trigger anarchy in the State which the Command and other law enforcement agencies are working assiduously to prevent.

Given the foregoing, the Command urges the public to disregard the misleading video report and further warns that mischief-makers should be ready to face the full wrath of the law as Police will not fold its arm while criminality is being perpetrated.”