It would be recalled that yet-to-be identified gunmen on Tuesday night invaded the newly constructed Abia cattle market in Omumauzor in Ukwa West local area of the State and killed eight cattle traders and inflicting injuries on others.
A statement issued by the national president of AYCF, Alhaji Yerima Shettima, said the forum was deeply concerned about the murder of Northerners resident in Abia, who were doing legitimate businesses. “We are also deeply touched by the report of scores of others sustaining various degrees of injuries and are presently hospitalised,” adding that, “we in the AYCF, condemn in totality this dastardly attack on innocent citizens from the North trading to earn a living and welcome the prompt response of security agencies and the Abia State Government for going after the killers and rushing the injured ones to the hospital.
AYCF prayed that, “this should be the last bad news we would hear about innocent Northern traders, from not just Abia but the entire Southeast, in the spirit of national unity and stability.” Meanwhile, a statement issued by the government of Abia State through the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barr Eze Chikamnayo, said: “On Tuesday, 15th February, 2022 at about 11:35pm, some yet to be identified hoodlums allegedly invaded traders at the New Cattle Market located in Omumauzor, Ukwa West Local Government Area of our Dear State.”