By Adenike Ayodele
Traders at the Owode-Onirin International Motor Spare Parts Dealers Market in Lagos State on Wednesday, accused the state government of deliberately conspiring to demolish the market.
The traders made the allegation at a news conference, convened to respond to a statement, attributed to the Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, following his visit to the market on Jan. 30.
According to the traders, the police chief reportedly said that land grabbers carried out the demolition.
Mr Abiodun Hameed, who spoke on behalf of the traders, said the police commissioner’s claim on the demolition was misleading and inconsistent with facts available to them.
“That statement is an understatement and does not reflect the facts and evidence in our possession.
“Owode-Onirin market was demolished by the Lagos state government and not land grabbers.
“We have remained law-abiding residents , carrying out our trading activities peacefully and paying all required dues and taxes to government agents,” he said.
Hameed further said the Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts market had existed for more than 60 years and was formally relocated to its current location in 1979, through the intervention of a former governor after the government wanted to make use of their site.
According to him, attempts to demolish the market began about two years ago,v during the tenure of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, Chairman Mr Dele Osinowo.
“That period marked the beginning of sustained pressure on the market, which eventually led us to process documents with the state government.
“The land was originally allocated by a former governor and later reconfirmed with a Certificate of Occupancy, dated Aug. 1, 2024,” Hameed said.
The trader also alleged that the demolition involved officials of the Lagos state Building Control Agency, the Lagos state Task Force, Kick Against Indiscipline, the Nigerian Army and police, with hundreds of fully armed officers present.
“This operation was carried out at the highest level because the machinery used, belonged to the state government, not land grabbers,” he said.
The trader further alleged that after the demolition, one Akeem Ariori, an engineer, arrived at the site with armed thugs, who guarded the area and attacked market members.
“Our members were attacked, and six people lost their lives. “Yet, no government official condemned these killings.”
He said repeated petitions and peaceful protests yielded no response, including demonstrations at the Lagos State House of Assembly on March 28 and Oct. 2, 2025.
The trader appealed to the Federal Government, National Assembly and Nigerians to intervene.
“We are legitimate residents of Lagos state and we pay our dues, yet we are treated as if we do not exist.”
Hameed urged the government to allow the traders to continue their lawful means of livelihood, insisting that they possessed valid documents supporting their claims.
Meanwhile, Mr Oluwasegun Owolabi, counsel to Ariori, had on Feb. 3, dismissed reports linking his client to the recent violence.
Owolabi said that execution of the judgment was carried out by the appropriate authorities and not by his client.
He said all documents relating to the judgments were available, including letters written to the police requesting enforcement, which were duly approved.
According to Owolabi, the execution is carried out by the office of the commissioner of police with the approval of relevant authorities.
“My client is not a land grabber, he was not at the scene and we have documents and video evidence showing where he was on that day.
“My client has nothing to do with the violence.
“The land in dispute belongs to the Olowu family, which obtained valid court judgments and subsequently engaged Ariori to enforce those orders.” Owolabi said.
In a swift reaction, the Director of Public Affairs for the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), Mr Ademuyiwa Adu, however, said he was just hearing the allegation for the first time.
Adu said the state government would never conspire with anyone.
“This is news to me because I am just hearing it for the first time.
“We do not know any Ariori and the state government will never conspire with anyone.
“We do our job as required by the law,” Adu said. (NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Chioma Ugboma
