Fears of reprisal permeated the popular Marian Market in Calabar and its environs following the alleged killing of a Hausa boy, allegedly by some rate-collecting agents.
The reported killing took place on Wednesday afternoon at the market when the rate agents accosted the boy.
The agents had asked him and his friends, who were returning from excavating rusted irons that were inside their wheelbarrow, to pay N100.
According to the market women who were eyewitnesses, the boys refused to pay the N100 rate paid by other hawkers, saying they were not hawking any wares but merely passing through the market.
The women said the rate agents would not hear any of such excuses from the boys and attempted to force them to part with the paltry amount.
