5 Igbo traders killed for failing to recite Quran in Niger State

Posted by admin National Politics, Niger, State News, Top Stories Sunday, September 25th, 2011

The five people believed to be Igbo traders were said to have been shot dead at Madala Market on Thursday Night between 7 – 8pm.

Our correspondent reliably gathered that the yet to be identified gunmen were said to have stormed the Madala market and made straight to a shop believed to be that of some Igbo traders and ordered them to recite the Holy Quran of which they could not.

The gunmen who were not satisfied with the development opened fire on the five people at close range leaving them dead immediately.

An alarm which was raised by other traders close to the shop where the five people were killed attracted passers by who sent a distress call to the Divisional Police Officer Suleja where a detachment of armed police were drafted to the scene.

However, before the police men could arrive the spot, the gunmen had already fled, leaving their casualties in their own blood.

The five casualties were later identified as John Kalu, Oliver Ezemah, Uche Nguweze, Sunday Emmanuel while fifth casualty was yet to be identified as at the time of going to press.

The identity of the gunmen are yet to be ascertained by people of the town and even the police who have swung into investigation.

An eye witness account told our correspondent no valuables were removed from the shop of the victims after they might have been gun down which invariably confirms that the gunmen were not armed robbers but suspected to be Boko Haram sect members.

Niger State police Command spokesman ASP Richard Adamu Oguche confirmed the story but could not also ascertain the originality of the gunmen.

He assured that police in the state are on top of the issue and called on the people in the state especi wp_posts