Leaders of the Igbo community in Kaduna State have alleged that some
of their kinsmen were still missing following the riot that broke out in
the state few weeks back.
Recall that a communal crisis erupted at Kasuwan Magani, Kajuru Local Government Area of the state where several people were killed, many houses and other property were burnt by rioters.
The Chairman, Igbo Community Welfare Association (ICWA), Kasuwan
Magani chapter, Mr. Tobias Udeh, speaking to Sun said “As I speak to
you, I cannot locate some of our people. We don’t know whether they have
relocated to the East or to the neigbouring communities.
“We are still searching for them. But all we know is that they are
alive. We didn’t lose any Igbo man. But we don’t know their whereabouts.
Many Igbo lost property worth hundreds of millions of naira.
“I personally lost millions of naira following the burning of my
property. It was not quite long I received fresh supply that the place
was set ablaze.
“On the day of the incident, I went to one village to buy chicken for
the celebration of my birthday which I always mark on February 27 of
every year. I left my house as early as 6:00a.m and by the time I
returned around 9:00a.m, I discovered that my wife was not in the house.
One of my children told me that she had travelled to Kaduna town to buy
some items.
“I went to my shop where I operate patent medicine shop, and later
went to the other shop where I do wholesale on soft drinks. I made sure
that I put things in order for my workers every day before I go for
other business.
“But after few minutes, I saw people running helter-skelter, and I
asked my daughter what was the problem after I left the house in the
morning?
“My daughter said that some people wanted to covert a Christian girl
to Islam, and her parents did not want that and so they forced their
daughter back home. She said there was commotion everywhere, and the
youths started taking laws into their hands.
“So before we knew it, people started locking up their shops, schools
were hurriedly closed, everybody was confused. I rushed back to the
house and picked my car, drove to the school to pick my children. After
picking them, I couldn’t drive back to the main road again because
everywhere was blocked with bonfire by the rampaging youths. I took a
bush path and drove straight to Kaduna and got my children to safety. I
later made effort to return to Kasuwan Magani, but it became a
go-no-area. I returned to Kaduna. I told my wife to remain in Kaduna and
not contemplate of returning to Kasuwan Magani.”
“We did not take away a pin from the place. The place was looted
before it was set ablaze. So many shops were burnt to ashes. I have been
living in Kasuwan Magani for more than 30 years now, but I cannot
explain why Igbo are always the target whenever incidents of this nature
occur. Igbo people don’t have problem with anybody but they are always
the big losers.
“My family is presently squatting with my sister in Kaduna. We are
calling on government to come to our aid over this incident,” Udeh added
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