Residents of Maiduguri took to the streets on Sunday to protest the killing of an innocent fruit seller by a soldier on Saturday at the West End area of the city.

The unidentified trader was allegedly killed by the bullets of one of the soldiers manning a road checkpoint, who aimed and fired at a tricyclist for refusing an order to stop.

It was gathered that the soldier took the tricyclist for a suicide bomber and acted to prevent a possible explosion that would have resulted in a bigger disaster, but the bullet missed its target and hit the trader who died on the spot.

Minutes after the killing, angry youths in their hundreds barricaded major roads in the area and also set bonfires.

A witnesses said what angered the youths and led to the protest was the fact that the soldier was not remorseful.

The witness, also a road side trader, told journalists that the angry youths chased away the soldier and his colleagues from the area.

“People were angered because after the shooting, the soldier did not show any sign of regret. The youths who came to the area started protesting the killing,” he said.

The incident created tension in the area and motorists plying the road were made to turn back to pass another routes as the road leading to Baga Road , Post Office and Custom area were closed for many minutes by the youths.