Thousands of people scampered for safety as the Kaduna central market was thrown into disarray after soldiers fired live rounds, following a disagreement with the mobile phone traders.

The confusion caused minor traffic collision and stampede as a number of people fled the market.

An eyewitness said the sound of gunshots actually caused ‘pandemonium’ in the market because traders and customers thought it was a terror attack.

“Customers had to run for their lives. People trampled upon women and children. This is because too much has happened in recent years on terrorists’ attacks,” the source said.

He said the disagreement ensued between mobile phone dealers and the soldiers over the discovery of faulty phones. “Soldiers purchased handsets and later found that the sets had some defects and returned them. They exchanged hot words with the traders before they fired into the air,” he added. Police confirmed the incident and said the matter had been resolved.

The police spokesman, deputy superintendent Zubairu Abubakar said both parties were invited to a police station where the matter was resolved. He said the soldiers had since returned to their base and army authorities in Kaduna were alerted.

•Excerpted from a Sunday Trust report. Photo shows Nigerian soldiers but not those involved in the shooting incident.