By IKE UCHECHUKWU

CALABAR- THE  Igbo community in Cross River State has expressed alarm over the wave of kidnapping of Igbo businesspersons in the state and called on the state government to, as a matter of urgency, reinforce security to secure residents of the state.

President General of the group, Chief Albert Enya, who briefed reporter in Calabar on the fear-provoking development, said: “We have been fighting the trend, we have been talking to government and kidnapping must stop.”

He, however, added: “The issue of closing of shops was not discussed in our last meeting and we have also resolved that there should be no strike or closure of shop in protest because Calabar is not only for Igbo.”

80% of kidnap victims is Igbo

Also speaking, the grand patron of Igbo community in Cross River state, Chief Fidelis Onyebueke, asserted, “We are here to do business, government should do something urgently to protect us, Igbos are not fighting government. Security agencies should beef up security and do more to curb the menace.

“About 80 per cent of kidnap victims are Igbo, it also seems Igbo is the target, but it is not true even though it seems so. We know security agencies are working round the clock ,we are also aware that the governor, Prof Ben Ayade,    is also doing his best, but more efforts must be put in curbing this notorious trend,” he said.

Govt hunting the criminals

Contacted, State Security Adviser , SSA, to the Governor, Mr. Jude Ngaji, told Niger Delta Voice: “Generally speaking, the government is not sleeping on this particular matter; government has purchased some modern equipment that will help in tracking down these miscreants. We have mapped out strategies to curb the menace.

“We commend their steadfastness and contributions, government is ready to meet with them, we have read the riot act to everybody and it is working.

He added: “Closing of shop is not really necessary, many of these criminals are not resident in Calabar, and among all the suspects arrested, there is no single Cross-Riverian,” the SSA added.

Niger Delta Voice recall that a group, Igbo Youth Forum, IYF, recently called for closure of shops by Igbo traders and businesspersons for two days to protest the spate of kidnap of Igbo traders, whom have become a major target of kidnappers in the state.