Panic erupted at Fayose Market in Ado-Ekiti on Tuesday after some soldiers allegedly opened fire indiscriminately, leaving at least three people injured, including a young girl.

Eyewitnesses said the incident began when a soldier confronted a customer who had come to repair his phone while wearing a short knicker. The soldier reportedly claimed the clothing resembled military camouflage. The man, described as wearing Ankara fabric, questioned the soldier’s conduct, urging him not to intimidate civilians.

The situation quickly escalated. According to witnesses, the soldier drew a combat knife and stabbed the man multiple times. The altercation intensified when another person at the scene allegedly called for reinforcements. Two military trucks reportedly arrived, and soldiers fired sporadically into the crowd, striking three people with stray bullets.

“The soldier involved is a devil and should be dismissed immediately,” one witness said. “Being civilians doesn’t make us lesser beings. Soldiers should always remember that we are citizens.”

The gunfire triggered a stampede as traders and customers abandoned their stalls to escape the bullets, creating chaos throughout the busy market.

Footage published by SaharaReporters shows the soldier attacking the civilian with a wooden plank before attempting to stab him, confirming accounts of the incident.

The Nigerian Army has yet to comment on the incident, which adds to growing concerns about allegations of human rights abuses involving military personnel.