Igbo traders shutdown Kano over killings of kinsmen

Igbo traders and businessmen in Kano State, yesterday staged a peaceful protest to ex­press their displeasure over the spate of cold-blooded murder of their colleagues and relatives in the state in re­cent times.

The victims included Mr. Tochukwu Augustine Ilo who was killed by the operatives of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad a week ago and Mrs. Bridget Agbaheme, who was hacked to death by Islamic extremists for alleged blasphe­my.

The protest, which held amid tight security by the police and other security agencies, com­menced with the closure of thousands of shops owned by Igbo traders in the different markets in the metropolis as early as 6 00am.

Affected were the Abubakar Rimi Market, the Iron and Steel Market in Kofar Ruwa, Kofar Wambai Market, including shops and small businesses that line the streets of Sabon-Garri metro area.

Over 5,000 traders and businessmen converged at the Rumfa Primary School, Enugu Road, Sabon Garri, Kano where the mourners assembled, Sun reports.

Chairman of the Sabon-Garri Market Igbo Traders As­sociation, who addressed the press, condemned the brutal murder of his member, saying he was a good man killed in bad taste.

Eze Ndigbo Kano, Chief Boniface Ibekwe disclosed the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Muhammad Sanusi 11 had waded into the issue, assuring the traders of the determination of the monarch to ensure that justice was done.