By PAMELA EBOH, Awka

One person has been reported dead while many sustained varying degrees of injury following a clash between security operatives and suspected hoodlums at Nnobi in Idemili South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

The incident which happened around the market on Wednesday evening is said to include a fish seller, butcher, teenager hawking variety of food stuff as among those that sustained injuries

According to sources, trouble started about 5.30 pm when some security operatives on routine duty stopped at the Meat Section of the market situated along Awka-Etiti Road to effect the arrest of a suspect.

It was gathered that after successfully arresting the suspect who ran into the market without causing panic, some hoodlums said to be cultists cum drug peddlers mobilized themselves against the security operatives, saying that the security operatives had no right to arrest any of their members without permission from Nnobi Central Vigilante of the Anambra Vigilante Group (AVG).

It was said that while the matter was being settled, one of the hoodlums said to be a drug peddler rushed forward with a broken bottle and jabbed the object on the face of one of the security operatives seated in the vehicle while others began shooting at the security operatives from the meat market section.

The hoodlums were said to have been over powered by the security operatives while one of them was said to have been killed during the clash as others escaped

Sources said the incident led to people running helter-skelter to escape the brouhaha while some others were caught by stray bullets.

When News Express got to the scene of the incident on Thursday, there was still fear and apprehension as the market deserted while some traders were seen hanging around.

One of the traders who gave her name as Chinonso Eke said he came around to see if the market was open for trading.

He said he was among those that quickly locked up their shops and ran for their lives.

In fact, I would have been surprised if shops on the market were opened today. Anybody that witnessed what happened here yesterday will not have courage to come here today. It was so scary, he added.

Red liquid substance believed to be blood smeared the cemented floor of the market, even as vegetables, dirt littered the entire place while some people were seen in small circles of four, there, five, etc, discussing the incident as it unfolded.

Meanwhile, it was further gathered that the one feared dead and those who were allegedly wounded have been taken to an undisclosed hospital in the town.