Traders in Calabar engaged in a Peaceful protest yesterday over the Incesant Kidnapping in the state.
The traders who shot their shops lamented that over 18 of their members had been kidnapped in the last 10 months, adding that the development came to a head with the kidnap of their patron, Chief Jude Odinka, who had been in captivity for eight weeks.
The traders placed a fine of N50,000 on any trader that flouts the strike action.
According to the Guardian reports, the Vice President of Electrical Dealers and Allied Products in Calabar, Akparawa Essien, said the traders had been made a veritable target of kidnapping, as many of their members had either been kidnapped or attacked, adding that some kidnap victims died in their captors den without any action from government.
Essien said:
“We are closing our shops and markets, including timber markets, spare parts markets/shops and electrical stores for two days to protest against the incessant kidnap of our members. It has degenerated to kidnap of ordinary traders and not the moguls; that is how bad it is now. We laud the efforts of the authorities in demolishing kidnappers’ houses, but the state government must rise up and take the bull by the horn.
“We can no longer keep quiet because our members are suffering. Some of these traders use loans, while some get goods from importers on credit. But due to ransom they pay to these criminals, they have become perpetual debtors because it seems we now work for the kidnappers; as high as N7 million has been paid as ransom.”
The traders however appealed to the state Governor Been Ayade, and security agencies to come to their rescue.
However the state Permanent Secretary (SSO), Dr. Alfred Mboto, stated that the State Government is aware of the N50, 000 fine levied on traders who violates the two-day strike.
He therefore insisted that the fine is unacceptable, vowing to arrest and prosecute any person or group of persons obstructing businesses in the state on June 22 and 23, 2020.
