Three persons were killed at the weekend as the prevailing tension generated over the new currency policy snowballed into violent protests in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom state capital, and Oron local government area, where three banks were also attacked.

The violence, it was gathered, spread since Friday to Hausa/Fulani community popularly called ‘Nasarawa’ at Mbak Itam 2, in the neighbouring Itam local government area.

Three persons were reportedly killed over disagreement between a Hausa/Fulani traders and some customers trying to buy foodstuffs with old naira notes.

An eye witness, Edem Murphy, an indigene of the neighbouring Afaha Oku village in Uyo, said trouble started when the people, who could no longer deposit their old notes in the banks after the deadline, trooped to the Hausa/Fulani location, upon hearing they still collect the old currency to sell their food items.

He said, “What happened was that many people are still with the old notes after deadline, when people had since stopped collecting the old N500 and N1,000, following the final announcement by President Muhammadu Buhari, that only the old N200 should still serve as legal tender.

“So, such people trooped to ‘Nasarawa’ to use their old outdated notes to buy foodstuffs from the Hausa traders. The deal was that whatever you are buying at any quantity, you would not get any balance refund after payment, and the people accepted.

“But what led to the trouble which degenerated into killings and burning of the Hausa/Fulani settlement started with a minor disagreement by a customer, who was accused by the Hausa trader of not paying after getting his measure of grains and other items. A fight ensued and hoodlums hijacked the scuffle to become a free-for-all.”

Speaking on Sunday, the leader of the Hausa/Fulani community in the state, Alhaji Hassan Sadauki, confirmed the incident, saying relative calm has returned following the intervention of security operatives from the nearby Itam division of the state Police Command.

He, therefore, enjoined his people to remain calm as efforts were on to calm frayed nerves in order to sustain the prevailing peace and harmonious relationship that has existed for years between non indigenes and the host community.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Odiko Macdon, could not be reached, as he could not pick calls to his phone at the time of filling this report.

But a senior Police official attached to Itam Division, confirmed arrest of some suspects in connection with the arson and killings.