The Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has asked Igbos residing in any part of the region not to fear for a reprisal attack after some Northern traders were killed during an attack on the newly constructed Abia cattle market in Omumauzor in the Ukwa West Local Government Area of Abia State by unknown gunmen on Tuesday night, February 15.

Eight persons were killed in the attack and many others were injured.

Reacting to the incident, the spokesman of the NEF, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed urged Igbos in the North to go about their legitimate businesses and not panic about any reprisal attack.

He added that those targeting and killing northerners in the South East region should be “stopped and prosecuted” by the government.

“Igbos in the North are not the killers of Northerners in the East. If they pursue legitimate business and live in peace, they have no reason to fear, and they should not be intimidated or threatened. Those killing Northerners in the East should be stopped and prosecuted. It’s enough,” Baba-Ahmed wrote on his Twitter account.