IKEJA: Traders at Owode-Onirin International Motor Spare Parts Market have accused the Lagos State Government of deliberately conspiring to demolish their market.
At a press conference, the traders, led by Mr Abiodun Hameed, rejected claims by Police Commissioner Olohundare Jimoh that land grabbers carried out the demolition.
“Owode-Onirin market was demolished by the Lagos state government, not land grabbers,” Hameed said.
The market, in existence for over 60 years and formally relocated in 1979, has faced demolition pressures since 2023. Hameed alleged involvement of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, Task Force, Kick Against Indiscipline, Nigerian Army, and police during the operation, which left six people dead.
He appealed to the Federal Government and National Assembly to intervene, insisting the traders possess valid documents supporting their claims.
Mr Oluwasegun Owolabi, counsel to engineer Akeem Ariori, dismissed links to the violence, noting that Ariori acted under valid court orders.
Meanwhile, LASBCA Director of Public Affairs, Ademuyiwa Adu, denied any conspiracy by the state government, stating, “We do our job as required by law.
