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The police in Borno
State have appealed to Igbo traders doing business in Maiduguri, to
rescind their decision to close shops over an alleged serial killing of
their members, claiming that investigations indicated that the attacks
on them were carried out by robbers.

The Police Public
Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Borno State Police Command, Lawal
Abdullahi, in Maiduguri on Tuesday, advised the traders to remain calm,
and promised that the police will strive to ensure maximum protection
of lives and property of all residents of the state.

According to Mr
Abdullahi, the Igbos were not targeted in the killings in the state as
the victims cut across tribes and religions.

“We are
investigating all the cases involving attacks on Igbo traders, our
investigations indicated that the attacks were carried out by robbers
because large sums of money were always taken away in the process of
such attacks. I want to assure them that we will get at the robbers
sooner or later.” He said.

The Igbo Welfare
Association had on Monday directed all traders to close their shops and
proceed on an indefinite fasting and prayer session to protest the
serial killing of their members in the state.

However, the police
spokesman assured them that the police is on top of the situation in
Maiduguri. “We are trying our best to ensure the protection of lives in
the state. The traders should be rest assured of maximum security by
our men.” He urged the traders to go about their normal businesses as
security has been beefed up in the state and also to utilise the police
distress call numbers which have been supplied to the public.

More than 50
persons, mostly security officers, had been killed by suspected Boko
Haram militants since July 2010 when the group launched deadly attacks
on individuals.

Meanwhile, the
Borno State Chapter of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) also
on Tuesday, called on the state government to address the killing of
innocent people in the state urgently.

The Chairman of the
chapter, Yuguda Mdurvwa, made the call while addressing the media in
Maiduguri, saying that the Christian community in the state has
suffered great losses in recent times, following attacks by
unidentified gunmen.

“A number of churches, clergymen and other Christians have been killed in recent times in cold blood in Maiduguri.

“We are surprised
that the attacks were carried out, in spite of measures taken to
protect lives and property by the state government which we commend.

“We fail to
understand the failure of security agencies, in spite of the enormous
resources by government to make sure that lives and property of
citizens are protected,” he said.

Mr Mdurvwa called on the State Government to put pressure on
security agents to ensure that they live up to expectations of
protecting lives and property of innocent and law-abiding citizens of
the state.