Igbo traders in Lokoja, Kogi State, on Monday, protested against the alleged targeted kidnappings of fellow tribespeople, particularly women, within the region.
They closed their shops in protest against the situation and scheduled a meeting for Monday evening to strategise the subsequent steps.
The traders lamented that over the past two years, nearly eighteen Igbo women and two men have fallen victim, with the most recent abduction victim being released on Sunday following a ransom payment.
Mr Ken Anyanwu, the leader of the Igbo community in Lokoja, expressed to Capital TV that these continuous abductions are perceived as specifically directed at their community, disclosing that over N200 million has been paid as ransom to kidnappers in recent years.
“What we are doing is just a protest to show our grievances about what has happened to us over the past two years.
“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 abducted.
“This very kidnapping is profiled kidnapping. They profile Igbo businessmen and go after our wives. The focus is on our women. Over 18 women, with two men, have been kidnapped.
“We have paid over N200 million since then. The last one happened on Tuesday, and she was released on Sunday after ransom was paid,” he said. He demanded that the Kogi state government protect them, their wives, and businesses.
“The average Igbo man has no time for all this nonsense; we come here to do our business, face our business, and care for ourselves. Our shops have been locked, and by 5 p.m., we will look at what we have done and make fresh decisions,” he added, maintaining that their shops will remain closed until Monday evening when they will collectively decide on the next course of action.
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