Igbo traders in Cross River State have closed down shops and other business activities on Monday, June 22 at Watt, Etim Edim and Marian Markets, Calabar following the rampant kidnapping and killing of Igbo traders in the state.

According to Grass Reporters, the latest being the CEO of Odinka Electrical and Electronics, Chief Odinka Odinka who was kidnapped alongside a former board member of the Federal Neuro-Psychiatric Hospital, Calabar, FNPH, Princess Filia Henshaw.

Chief Odinka, who is said to be in his 70s and an asthmatic patient, was kidnapped from his shop at Target Street Calabar South LGA.

The traders were directed by the leadership of Igbo union to close their shops and business activities in all the major markets in Cross River State.

A trader, John Okechukwu who spoke to our correspondent said Igbo traders live in fear over what he called “rampant kidnapping of Igbo traders in the state”.

He said: “The kidnapping of Igbos in the state is becoming alarming. We are living in fear. Igbo traders are endangered species. Chief Odinka was kidnapped since February and his abductors have refused to release him while others have been released.

He added that they were directed to close down shops for today and tomorrow to protest and demand for the release of all Igbo traders.

Irked by the directive, the Cross River State government told the traders to disregard the directive, vowing to “prosecute any person or group of persons under any guise seen obstructing any Igbo trader from opening his/her shop for business in the state on Monday, June 22, 2020 and Tuesday, June 23, 2020”.

In a statement on Sunday night signed by Dr. Alfred Mboto, Permanent Secretary, Security Services, the government described the directive as unacceptable.

The statement reads:

“The attention of the Cross River State Government has been drawn to a plan by some members of Igbo traders union in the Calabar metropolis to force their members to close their shops for two days with effect from Monday, June 22, 2020.

“Government is also aware of the threat of N50, 000 surcharge by the union on any Igbo trader who opens his or her shop for business within the two days.

“Their plan is unacceptable to government and government will do everything within her power and the law to arrest and prosecute any person or group of persons under any guise seen obstructing any Igbo trader from opening his/her shop for business in the state on Monday, June 22, 2020 and Tuesday, June 23, 2020.

“All Igbo traders in Calabar and the entire Cross River state are therefore, advised to disregard the call and threat of the Igbo traders union and go ahead to open their shopes for their legitimate businesses.