Traders at Lagos State’s Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market have appealed to the federal government to step in and conduct a thorough investigation into the demolition of their market, which they claim was the result of a high-level conspiracy by the Lagos State government.
In response to remarks made by Lagos State Commissioner of Police CP Olohunwa Ishola during his visit to the market on January 28, wherein the demolition was allegedly attributed to the actions of land grabbers, the appeal was made on Wednesday during a media briefing organized by the traders.
Abiodun Akeem Ariori vehemently denied allegations that he was involved in land grabbing at the briefing, stating that he is a law-abiding citizen and challenged the police commissioner to provide any proof that he was involved.
Abiodun Hameed, a member of the market committee who spoke on behalf of the traders, stated that the description of the incident as the result of land grabbers did not match the information that the traders had access to.
He insisted that the demolition was an operation conducted by Lagos State Government agents rather than a criminal crime by private individuals.
After the dealers’ prior site was purchased for public use, a former Lagos State governor formally moved the Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market to its current location in 1979, according to Hameed. The market had been in operation for more than 60 years.
He claims that market vendors have always conducted themselves amicably and in accordance with laws, which include paying taxes and levies to authorized government representatives.
“We have continued to be law-abiding citizens, conducting our business in a peaceful manner and paying all taxes and dues to government representatives,” stated Hameed.
Additionally, he said that during Dele Osinowo’s stint as Chairman of the Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, LCDA, attempts to demolish the market started approximately two years ago, which prompted the traders to start the process of obtaining official ownership certificates for the land.
The traders further claimed that a large number of armed security personnel were used in the demolition exercise, along with representatives of the Nigerian Army, the Lagos State Task Force, the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), the Kick Against Indiscipline (KAI), and the Lagos State Task Force.
They stated that six people were killed in an attack on traders after Ariori allegedly showed up at the location with armed people to secure the area following the destruction.
The shopkeepers added that despite their repeated nonviolent demonstrations to the Lagos State House of Assembly, no government official has officially denounced the purported killings.
They consequently pleaded with the Federal Government to intervene in order to safeguard their sources of income, guarantee an unbiased inquiry into the demolition and purported murders, and let them to carry on with their lawful commercial endeavors without fear of retaliation.