By Eseoghene Emuke
Palpable tension has reportedly enveloped Ekpan community in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State following a clash between Igbo traders and some suspected youths in the area over ‘Deve’ collection.
The incident occurred around the Udumoto area of Ekpan along the NNPC Housing Complex road at the popular tiles market by Ekpan First Bank.
It was gathered that the youths had demanded unspecified amount of money from truck drivers who were offloading goods owned by Igbo traders around First Bank area of the community.
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Our correspondent gathered that the Igbo traders who had earlier agreed to pay the illegal fee later declined after the youths increased the fee and turned down the amount that the Igbo traders offered.
Refusal by the traders to give the youths money led to fracas between the traders and the youths.
It was learnt that the traders later challenged the youths and pursued them with cutlasses and objects.
Sources told our reporter that the youths had vowed to retaliate by mobilizing back to the area.
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It was not clear how many persons were injured during the clash but sources claimed some persons from both camps sustained injuries during the melee.
It was further learnt that the Igbo traders had mobilised other of their members from Warri and Uvwie areas of the state to the scene.
However, police operatives have been drafted to the area to forestall further clashes between parties. Our correspondent observed the presence of the policemen from the Ekpan Police Station.
