By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
Shops and other business activities belonging to Igbo traders in Lokoja, the Kogi State capital, were closed down Yesterday.
Yesterday, at New Market, Ganaja junction, Murtala Muhammed Way, Cantonment and Karaworo, shops were under lock and key when our correspondent visited.
National Watch Tv gathered that the closure was necessitated by the spate of kidnapping of Igbo traders wives in the state.
The latest being an Igbo lady who was kidnapped along Ganaja road while returning home from Church.
The traders were directed by the leadership of Igbo union to close their shops and business activities in all the major markets in Lokoja.
A trader, Mr Sunday Ike who spoke to our correspondent said Igbo traders live in fear over what he called “rampant kidnapping of Igbo traders in the state”.
He said: “The kidnapping of Igbos in the state is becoming alarming. We are living in fear. Igbo traders are endangered species. One Igbo lady was recently kidnapped while returning from Church her abductors refused to release her until the husband paid a huge sum of money as ransom.
According to him, yesterday, the Lokoja Local Government Caretaker Chairman, Hon. Abdullahi Adamu had interfaced with all Igbo traders in Lokoja.
He said the LG boss has allayed their fears, assuring them that Lokoja would continue to be a melting pot for all Nigerians.
“The LGA Chairman said his administration would continue to foster security and promote peaceful coexistence among all ethnic nationalities in the state.
“Following the quick intervention of the Chairman, the leadership of our union has ordered us to call off the protest and that’s reason we open our shops today,” Mr Ike explained.
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