Tragedy struck at the Timber market as members of the Abia State Vigilante Services,also known as Bakassi Boys, killed a trader and injured six others over the nonpayment of N18,000 annual market levy paid by traders in the state.
Pointblanknews.com gathered that some staff of Abia State Board of Internal Revenue (BIR) had gone to the market to collect the N18,000 from the traders.
However, a disagreement ensued as the traders argued that they have started making paying by installments.
While the disagreement lasted, it was gathered that one of the Bakassi Boys who accompanied the BIR staff, started firing sporadic shots which hit seven traders at the market.
One of the wounded traders was said to have later died while the other six who sustained various degrees of injuries are said to be receiving medical attention at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahia.
Chairman of the Market, Ndubuisi Nwogu, told journalists that the traders and revenue agency had agreed on the method of payment of the N18, 000 annual levy as some traders had commenced payment, as agreed.
However, Nwogu stated that the traders were shocked when the BIR ordered traders to close their shops, contrary to the agreement reached by both parties.
He stated that the BIR staff sealed all the shops at the market, including those owned by traders who had already made some payment to the agency
He further stated that the shooting of the 7 traders and sealing of their shops infuriated some of the traders who allegedly razed the vigilante office in the market as well as their patrol vehicle.
 Spokesman of the Abia State Police Command, SP Geoffrey Ogbonna, who confirmed the incident, however, stated no trader, was killed.
He further disclosed that the wounded traders have received medical attention and later discharged by a hospital in the city.
