By: Mandy Park
Aggrieved Owode Spare Part Traders in their hundreds today, Thursday 27, embarked on peaceful protest to the Lagos House to seek redress over the illegal demolition of their over 500 shops.
The protesting market men and women, who wielded placards with various inscriptions alleged unlawful invasion and demolition of their shops without a prior notice by the Lagos State Building Control Agency (LASBCA), who they said were aided by land grabbers and some thugs.
They urged the state government and the state Assembly to wade into the matter.
But there seem to be a relief as Lagos House promised to ensure that the traders get justice.
A member of the Assembly, Hon Rasheed Shabi, representing Lagos Mainland 2, who received the petition of the protesters on behalf of the House, strongly pledged a speedy intervention in order to restore peace.
Said Hon. Shabi “You have brought your petition to your House for fair hearing, I can assure you that we will give it an accelerated hearing. I urge you to be peaceful and return to your homes peacefully,” .
This was just as the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), under the leadership of its President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, condemned the demolition.
The inscriptions on some of the placards read; “ Babajide Sanwo Olu give us justice,’ “Owode market is Jakande legacy” , IGP call FCID Alagbon to order” No any notice of relocating our market,” “ Lagos State Government should call LASBCA to order,” “We say no to illegal demolition, ,,” “Mr. Speaker save our soul and save our market,” and “IGP call F.C.I.D Alagbon to order.”
It will be recalled that on Thursday March 6, 2025 officials of LASBCA accompanied by some policemen and hundreds of suspected thugs armed with various dangerous weapons invaded Owode Market and demolished over 500 shops with items worth billions of naira.
Chairman of the traders, Mr. Abiodun Ahmed, said in an interview that three of his shops were demolished and goods carted away by suspected thugs and the police.
He said that he was also detained at Alagbon Police State and that he was warned not to go near the market after his release.
Lamenting the negative impacts of the demolition of the shops on the economic wellbeing of the traders, Ahmed said that two of the traders have been confirmed dead as a result of the demolition.
“We had no prior notice of the demolition or any plan to relocate us. We practically built the market ourselves and we have been doing our businesses peacefully until they came overnight and shattered our hopes,” he said.
Comrade Alex Omotehinse, who presented the petition of the traders to the House of Assembly and the Governor’s office, said in an interview that the Inspector General of Police, Mr Kayode Egbetokun had directed his men not to get involved in landed matters.
Omotehinse added that policemen guided the suspected thugs and land grabbers, who he said laid siege on the demolished area in the market, contrary to the instruction of the IGP.
The activist further emphasised the complaints of the protesters, which include thorough investigation by the assembly to unravel what really transpired and bring the perpetrators to book, saying that the livelihoods of many traders and marketers are being hampered by the demolition.