Adamawa's Economy Grinds to a Halt as Igbo Depart in Droves over Boko Haram Attacks.

An escalating insecurity that has seen several armed attacks in Adamawa state has forced businesses to shut down, hitting hard on the northeastern state’s socio-economy and sending many of the mainly non-indigene business operators away from the state.

Since the attacks broke out in December 2011, more than 30 people have been killed in drive-by shootings, and many of the victims are from the southeastern part of the country, who form the bulk of the state’s business community.

The Igbo Cultural Association said the attacks “appeared targeted at the Igbo race,” an allegation that has been disclaimed by the Adamawa state government which has assured residents of the state of increased security.

In response to a recent attack that occurred penultimate Monday behind the Power Holding Company of Nigeria PHCN Jimeta office on Taraba Street, Governor Murtala Nyako announced a ban on motorcycle operations within the state capital. He re- assured the Igbo community of their safety in the state.

President General of Igbo Cultural Association, Ofor Eze Nwachukwu, told PREMIUM TIMES the assurances have hardly given sufficient guarantees to the bulk of Igbo business community, many who he confirmed had fled the state.

Socio-economic activities in the state have slowed down tremendously since the Monday killings in which five people are said to have died. Many shops and businesses have refused to open for services as many fear the authorities were not “doing enough to offer them protection.”

PREMIUM TIMES has of recent sighted an unusually high number of luxury buses departing Yola, the state capital for Nigeria’s south, many of the passengers aboard the vehicles, women and children.

The Monday attacks by yet to be identified gunmen - although security sources told PREMIUM TIMES the attackers have been arrested - saw gunmen opening fire on the gathering of sympathizers killing five of them on the spot and wounding 10 others.

“It was like a commando film of a sort; in my entire life I have never seen anything close to this”, recounted Okoye Amselem, who himself sustained bruises from the stampede. Policemen who were around during the attack scampered for safety, he said.

“Yesterday around 7:30 to 8:00pm we heard gunshot three times, we immediately took cover, after a while we ran to the scene and saw our brother Simon lying down in the pool of his blood, dead; and we took him to the morgue at the Specialists hospital”.

“This morning our people assembled to discuss what happened and how to approach the security challenge bedeviling us, suddenly unknown persons came into the midst of the crowd and opened fire indiscriminately and killed five people instantly, injuring many, I can’t give the number now”, a Mr. Anslem, looking terrified, recalled.

The purpose of the gathering by Mr. Simon's kith and kin, it was learnt, was to make arrangement on how to give him a befitting burial, before the unsuspecting gunmen swooped on the gathering, shooting sporadically on the mourners.

However Mr. Ofor Eze berated the Adamawa state government for not showing enough concern saying since the recent attack occurred, no top government functionary administration had visited to commiserate with the victims, nor invited them to assuage their feelings.

“As I am talking to you only security operatives have cared to talk to us, and so far we are left to cater for the wounded and also bearing mortuary expenses at the ICA level,” he said.

Similar attacks occurred last December in Mubi, another town in Adamawa state, where sympathizers and relatives of some slain traders had gathered to finalize the funeral arrangement for some deceased members felled in a previous attack.

While they were at the planning, armed men returned and fired at the gathering killing additional 14 persons.

Since then, the state has witnessed recurring incidences that are gradually bringing the state business economy to a halt. - premium Times.
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i told you people that the state will lose economically cant mess with the investors they hold the key

no pictures?

well more news later

This is nothing short of ETHNIC CLEANSING. Obviously they'd be happy to see Igbos/Christians leave the place for them, and economic losses doesn't even figure in their calculations insofar as free oyel money continues to pour in from Abuja.

We have ethnic cleansing being carried out by the same people that fought to bring us back into this 'country', but life continues as normal like its the most natural thing in the world to kill tens of people in cold blood just b'cos they happen to be Igbo or Christian. Up ONE NAIJERIAH- don't you just love it?

And these brothers that don't want to learn from past murders to protect themselves better- i tire for them. The same way those children of satan killed mourners last year is the same way they did it again in this last incident, yet those gathered didn't think it expedient to arm themselves and have look-outs, hidden and laying in wait for the filthy muthafuckers to show up again.

These scum are getting inspiration not just from the fact that they're cleansing their land of infidels, but are also tapping into those age-old feelings of hatred, jealousy and suspicion of the Igbo that saw them do exactly the same thing in events leading up to the civil war.

This 'one naijeriah' mantra is a ruse, and it only serves the interest of a few gaining from the status-quo, which they sustain with the blood of others. Of course EVERYBODY has their day of reckoning, and they will surely get theirs.

If it hurts Adamawa's economy, it is likely to be a short term thing. Isn't a huge long-term loss.

Anyway, regarding the main point of the thread, unfortunate.

First I want to sympathise with the victims of the attacks.
Secondly, I want to clarify that, from the look of things the Igbos are not specifically targetted because there were many non Igbos killed in those attacks.
Thirdly, the economy of the state has grounded to a halt more as a result of the ban on motorcycles in major towns of the state than Igbos leaving.
To many observers the violence is being perpetuated and nurtured by the state govt to justify the looting of huge funds of the state in the name of security and the security agencies for the special allowance they receive for the special security duties they perform. This conclusion is arrived at by looking at the way the state govt is trying to escalate the crisis to even areas like Ganye where there was no single incidence of shooting. The security have even a bigger incentive to perpetuate and nurture the crisis. I am told that those on special assignment receive a daily allowance of up to #15,000 each and the other regular police collect money ranging from #3000 to #10000 from anyone whose mororcycle has been seized. For example, in Mubi whenever the soldiers notice that their is no any incidence of violence they will simply kill some people and dumb their bodies or throw a bomb just to give the impression that violence is still on going in the town.
The role of the police is even more suspicious. How can you explain a situation where two gun men will come to a gatherin of Igbos, which is being guarded by two truckloads of policemen, open fire on the gathering, kill and wound many without the police doing anything to stop them?