A concerned group, the Igbo National Union World-Wide (INU-W), has strongly condemned the alleged murder of Blessing Eze, an Igbo trader who was reportedly killed at Ifo Market in Ogun State for failing to pay an illegal religious levy.
According to reports, Eze was stabbed in the chest by an armed gang after she was unable to pay a N1,500 levy allegedly imposed on traders for a Muslim festival. The incident has sparked outrage among the Igbo community.
Group Issues 7-Day Ultimatum
In a press statement issued by INU-W National Spokesperson, Ngozi Ogbomor, the group expressed dismay over the killing and questioned why the government would impose such a levy on traders without considering that not all market vendors are Muslims.
"What concerns the traders with a Muslim festival that they are not part of? And why impose religious levies on non-Muslim adherents?" Ogbomor questioned in the statement.
The group has given the Ogun State Government a seven-day ultimatum to investigate the matter, effect arrests, and ensure justice is served. They warned that failure to act would compel them to "embark on any course of action that we deem necessary to make sure Blessing Eze did not die in vain."
Concerns Over Ethnic Targeting
The INU-W spokesperson further alleged that the daylight murder of the "innocent and hapless woman" portrays Igbos as targets for "annihilation at any slightest provocation allegedly by the Nigerian State and her security agents."
"It can now be deduced that to the perpetrators, Igbo life is worth less than One US Dollar. God forbid," the statement read.
The group also expressed disappointment that both security agencies and the Ogun State Government have yet to respond to the incident or make official statements regarding the matter.
As of the time of this report, there has been no official response from the Ogun State Government regarding the incident or the ultimatum issued by the group.
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