THE popular mechanic village located along Abak Road in Afaha Offot Uyo Local Government Area, of Akwa Ibom State has been shut following the crisis that erupted in the area on Friday.
Reports have it that what started as a disagreement ensued between an indigene of the State and an Igbo resident in the Mechanic village, later turned violent, leaving many people to scamper for safety.
However, one Wisdom Effiong, a mechanic at the market said that a fierce encounter between the duo eventually degenerated into an ethnic war between the Igbos and the indigenous Akwa Ibom spare parts dealers in the area.
According to him, the clash started when an Akwa Ibom man gathered heap of wastes and tried to burn it a short distance from an Igbo man shop, the Igbo trader confronted him and ordered that he should not burn the wastes near his shop.
The Igbo man used a sharp object to pierce the Akwa Ibom man on the head forcing angry reaction from other indigenes, who demanded that the culprit, who escaped after the incident be brought out to be handed over to the Police.
He added that It was when the Igbo man could not be produced that the fierce argument degenerated into a serious crisis.
It was gathered that the crisis would have turned bloody but for the intervention of joint team of the Army and the Police drafted to restore calm in the area before the place was shut down.
Meanwhile, in a statement made available to newsmen on Friday the Uyo LG Council Chairman, Dr. Uwemedimo Udo, directed that the mechanic village be shut down.
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