Some traders of Igbo extraction in Lokoja, Kogi State, North Central Nigeria have staged a peaceful protest against the alleged targeted kidnapping of their tribespeople, especially their women in the region.
The traders locked their shops on Monday to protest against the situation.
The protesters plan to hold a meeting on Monday evening to determine the next line of action.
The protestors decried that for the past two years, no fewer than 18 Igbo women and two men had been kidnapped with the latest victim released on Sunday after the payment of a ransom.
The leader of the Igbo community in Lokoja, Kogi state capital, Mr Ken Anyanwu, while speaking to Capital TV, said the Igbo community saw the incessant abductions as being targeted against them.
According to him, over N200 million has been paid as ransoms to kidnappers in the last few years.
Anyanwu said: “What we are doing is just a protest to show our grievances about what has been happening to us for over the past two years now.
“Over two years now, our wives have been kidnapped incessantly. Within every other two weeks, they keep kidnapping our wives. When they are kidnapped, we pay a ransom, and they are released the next day. Then they will go and kidnap another person. Between then and now, about 20 have been kidnapped.
“This very kidnapping is profiled kidnapping. They profile Igbo businessmen and go after our wives. The focus is on our women and over 18 have been kidnapped and two men.
“We have paid over N200 million since then. The last one (kidnapping) happened on Tuesday and she was released on Sunday after ransom was paid. We want the government in Kogi state to protect us, our wives, and our businesses.
“The average Igboman has no time for all this nonsense; we come here to do our business, face our business, and take care of ourselves. Our shops have been locked and by 5 pm we will look at what we have done and make fresh decisions.”
He, however, maintained that their shops would remain shut till Monday evening when a new decision would be taken on the next line of action.
Credit: Sahara Reporters
