Some armed men and officials suspected to be working for Mushin Local
Government and supported by a team of policemen on Tuesday morning
invaded Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market and demolished shops in the
market.
During the demolition exercise, the traders were barred from entering
the market in Mushin, Lagos State, western Nigeria, to remove their
goods from the shops.
The armed men were battle ready to forestall any resistance from the
traders as the demolition was going on.
Traders were also not allowed to get near the entrance into the market
as tipper lorries were seen taking sand and gravel into the market to
commence work after the demolition.
The chairman of the market and president of the central market union,
Comrade Kingsley Ogunor said he was not informed before they came for
the demolition which threw the entire market into confusion.
In front of the market gate was a banner placed by those suspected to
be behind the demolition with the inscription: Proposed Commercial
Development of Mushin, Lagos.
It was also written on the banner that Mushin Local Government in
conjunction with a developer known as Total Value Integrated Services
Limited is to commence building a modern plaza market in place of the
present stalls being demolished.
Roofs at Ladipo market removed
Roofs at Ladipo market removed
The duration for the completion of the project is 18 months.
When our reporter visited the market Tuesday morning, some of the
traders expressed their surprise over the development and said they
were not given any notice, neither was there any court judgment asking
them to vacate the stalls.
At the time of this report, the traders had started protesting over
the demolition and had moved to the Mushin Council secretariat to
complain about what they alleged as illegal demolition.
When our reporter visited the council, the council secretary, Mr
Babajide Bello was not around to comment on the matter.
Traders locked outside the market as demolition going on at Ladipo market
Traders locked outside the market as demolition going on at Ladipo market
The information officer, Mr Akin Akinwunmi was not also around and did
not pick calls at the time of this report.
A developer carried out a similar action some time last year and it
did not amount to anything as the traders held on to their stalls.
It was not yet clear if it is the same developer that is behind the
latest demolition.
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