Some shop owners at the JDP Round About at Abuloma community in Port Harcourt City Local Government Area have lost property following attacks by unknown hoodlums.
One of the landlords from Abuloma community, Akpaka Ajimofor alleged that some youths from a neighbouring community invaded the area and demanded money from the shop owners.
Ajimofor said the youths burnt down the shops, and also used bottles and dagger to cut him when he intervened.
Some of the affected shop owners who spoke to newsmen said the hoodlums came in their numbers to their shops demanding money and to know the persons who gave them the shops.
They said bottles were thrown into their shops and that they were beaten by the youths.
“We were in the shop when the youths came, they entered our shop demanding that who authorised us to stay here.
“We told them it was our landlords, they ask for money but we refused to give them.
“In that process they threw bottles into our shop, beat up our master and burnt the shops. We put off the first fire, when they saw that we have put off the fire, they came back the second time with fuel and matches and burnt the shops the second time and they chased us with bottle and dagger.
“We could not put off the fire again, so many things got burnt, my oga’s money, the scrap metal he just bought for festive period, and other things from our neighbour”, one of the victims said.
Meanwhile, the paramount ruler of Abuloma Community, King Bright Ateke-Fiboinomama has condoled with shop owners affected by the fire incident at Okuru junction by JDP Round About.
The monarch, who visited the site directed the Okuru Youth President and the Divisional Police Officer in the area to arrest and prosecute all the youths involved to avoid further occurrence.
He maintained that Okuru and Abuloma people are brothers as all issues will be resolved.
Also, the Youth President of Abuloma community, Patrick Seminibika said the problem was between the landlords of the shops and Okuru people, not a boundary issue.