Igbo traders protest targeted killing f their kinsmen in Bayelsa
FeaturedNigeria April 13, 2016 Arodiegwu Eziukwu
Gov. Dickson
Igbo traders in Bayelsa Monday protested the serial killings of prominent Igbo businessmen in Yenagoa, the state capital, by unknown gunmen, suspected to be armed robbers and hired assassins.
The Igbos in Bayelsa mostly traders, joined by other Igbo indigenes in the state capital, staged a protest and marched many kilometres to the state Police Headquarters to express their disgust on the wave of killings.
They were particularly angry over the gruesome murder of Martins Agodo by gunmen at his Yenagoa residence in early hours of Monday.
The gunmen were said to have broken into the house of Agodo, who owns a popular boutique, Omars Fashion Plaza, at the OMPADEC area of the Yenagoa-Mbiama Road.
It was learnt that the gunmen who invaded the Amarata residence of Agodo on Punch Road, demanded money from their victim.
The deceased was said to have told his assailants that there was no cash at home because shops in the capital city were shut down for about four days in honour of the late former Governor Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, who was buried on Saturday.
After ransacking his house, the gunmen were said to have shot and killed Agodo in cold blood in the presence of his wife, whom he newly married.
The traders led by the President, Ohaneze Youth Council, Chief Chinedu Arthur-Ugwa, also lamented that Agodo was killed a few days after gunmen suspected to be assassins murdered another successful Igbo businessman, Ugochukwu, alias Ugo Best.
It was further learnt that Ugochukwu was killed along the Azikoro village on his way home after business of that day.
“Ugochukwu was close to his house in company with his wife when gunmen operating in commercial tricycles blocked his car. They dragged him out of the car and forced him into the tricycle.
“His corpse was discovered the next day at the Azikoro cemetery with his hands and legs tied up. He was a successful businessman who built a big house at the Azikoro village. We are scared of these series of killings.” Oe o the traders said
The traders also related how another unnamed businessman was gruesomely murdered at the Tombia area, saying that others were being harassed and injured by arm-bearing youths.
The traders assembled at the front of Omars boutique, forced shops to close down and marched with anger to the state command of the police.
They were received by the Commissioner of Police, Mr. Peter Ogunyawo, and other senior police officers.
Presenting their grievances, Arthur-Ugwa said told the commissioner that the Igbos were no longer safe in Bayelsa.
“We are being killed by gunmen. One was killed at Azikoro, the other one was killed at Tombia and today another one who just got married was killed in Amarata.
“We are not happy and we have closed down our businesses to come and tell you at the headquarters that we are not safe. If you cannot guarantee our safety, we will relocate our businesses and families out of the state. We are pleading for your assistance” He said,
In his response, Ogunyawo told the traders that crimes exist everywhere and were not targeted at the Igbos.
He said death is one debt everybody must pay and that nobody knows how it will be paid.
He said the command was doing everything possible to check the crime wave in the state and asked the traders to furnish the police with information to enable them to become more effective.
“We can’t be effective if you don’t partner with us. Once you have feelings of any crime, let us know. You don’t need to run to anywhere because crimes exist everywhere,” the police commissioner stated.
Arodiegwu Eziukwu
