Palpable fear gripped residents of Sokoto State as some youths, on Saturday, attacked Igbo traders in the state.
The incident, which visibly shook Igbo merchants on Bello Way and Emir Yahaya areas of Sokoto metropolis, forced other Igbo traders at nearby Sahara street to close down their shops and run for safety.
It was learnt that armed youths, in their hundreds, set ablaze a building along Bello Way, where Igbo traders have shops.
One of the victims, identified as Chief Okafor, said, “My house was razed by some suspected arsonists.
“I got a call from my wife that some youths had invaded my house and set it ablaze. My family narrowly escaped the attacks.”
Another victim, William Emmanuel Usoh, told journalists that his Honda Civic car was torched by some unidentified youths along Emir Yahaya Road.
Usoh explained that the timely arrival of men of the Nigeria Civil Defence and Security Corps, however, prevented the youths from destroying more property in the area.
When contacted, the President-General of Igbo Community in Sokoto State, Charles Uwaga, confirmed the incident.
He said reports reaching him indicated that some of his members were attacked within the state capital.
“A member just called me that his house was razed. There were also cases of vandalised shops,” Uwaga said.
Reacting to the development, the state government urged all residents to go about their activities without fear of molestation.
The government stated that arrangements had been put in place to protect lives and property.
The spokesman for Governor Aminu Tambuwal, in a statement, said the unrest in other parts of the country, especially the South-East, would have no negative effect on residents of Sokoto.
He lauded the people of the state for being their brother’s keeper and urged them to engage in acts that will promote unity and understanding at all times.