7 Northern traders shot dead in Imo

Seven traders of northern extraction are reported to have been murdered .

Our correspondent gathered that the victims were killed in separate shooting incidents in Orlu town and Umuaka in Njaba Local Government Area between Friday and Saturday.

Narrating the incident to newsmen, an eyewitness, Harisu Umaru Ishiaku, said that the killers, dressed in Military uniform, stormed the Afor Umuaka market around 8:30 pm and attacked the victims, saying four of the victims who are within the age bracket of 45 years and 30 years have lived in the area for many years.

While suspecting that the people who carried out the attack are strangers, he said there has never any issue between the deceased and people of Umuaka community.

According to the Imo State Coordinator of Hausa traders, Ibrahim Abdulkadir, the first incident happened on Friday when three Suya sellers were about to close for the day.

He said some gunmen in a Sienna car emerged suddenly and pumped bullets into their body, adding that the same set of gunmen attacked four Hausa traders in a similar style at Umuaka, in Njaba.

It was learnt that the corpses of the victims have been taken to Owerri in preparation for burial.

Abdulkadir said that Hausa traders in Orlu now live in fear, adding that some of them have relocated to Owerri, the State capital.

The Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Imo State on Gender, Vulnerable Groups, Northern Affairs (Men), Hon. Sulaiman Ibrahim Sulaiman, said the state government as well as all the units of security agencies have waded into the matter.

While calling for peace to reign, Sulaiman said that the State governor, Hope Uzodimma, is disturbed by the incidents.

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