There was pandemonium in the early hours of yesterday in Ado Ekiti, the capital of Ekiti State, where there was a free-for-allbetween members of National Union of Road Transport Workers, (NURTW) and some traders said to be of northern extraction.

The development paralyzed social and economic life of the city, as most shops and banks abruptly closed.

It was gathered that the clash left properties worth millions of naira vandalised.

Unconfirmed reports also had it that one unnamed person was feared dead.

It was gathered thattrouble started Tuesday night when the wife of one of the leaders of the NURTW was allegedly molested by unknown persons along the ever-busy Ijigbo old garage area of the city.

Cases of harassment of women and bag snatching had become routine in the area where a large number of the traders reside.

It was learnt that an attempt by the enraged husband of the victim and his followers to find out who actually harassed his wife led to a fight.

In the ensuing pandemonium, at least five vehicles belonging to the drivers were vandalized while 15 houses and offices rented by the traders were either vandalized.

This provided opportunity for hoodlums wielding cutlasses and broken bottles to break into shops and loot property and money which could not be quantified at press time.

It took the intervention of the Ewi of Ado Ekiti, Oba Rufus Adejugbe and the new Police Commissioner in the state, Mr. Etop James to restore sanity.

While addressing both sides at old garage and Atikankan, the CP expressed regret over the incident.

He called on the people to always inform him about any imminent break down of law and order.

•Adapted from Vanguard. Photo shows the scene.