Thirty-six Igbo traders were among the over 100 persons that lost their lives in the twin bomb explosion that rocked the Jos Terminus market, Plateau State last week. 42 others from South-east part of the country were also injured in the explosion.
The Eze Igbo Jos, Prof. Jerome Obilom, who told journalist on Monday in Jos, added that several Igbo traders are still missing since the blasts which reportedly killed over 100 people, many of whom were burnt beyond recognition.
“36 of our members were killed in the May 20 explosions that rocked Jos market. 42 others were injured in the incident. In addition, many others are still unaccounted for while Igbo traders lost goods worth millions of naira.
“But our major problem now is the move by the state government to give mass burial to the victims without informing members of the community especially we Igbos. It is our tradition not to bury our own outside our homestead.
“Some hospital authorities were very hostile when the community led by the Chairman of the Igbo Community Association, Jonah Ezekwueme, visited them to identify victims of the blasts who were of Igbo extraction.
“There is the need to compensate victims of the bomb blasts. In the past incidents, the Ndigbos were neglected and made to bear the cost of burying and rehabilitating their members alone.”
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