By MOSES OMOROGIEVA

Commercial activities at the Police Officers Wives Association Complex (POWA Complex), Computer Village Ikeja, Lagos, were paralysed on Friday following a protest by traders over plans to demolish the complex.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the protest by the traders on Thursday, all shops remained opened for business.

However, on Friday all the gates leading to the complex were under lock and key.

The traders, led by the leadership of the complex, displayed a banner containing the court injunction secured by them, preventing the demolition of the complex.

They marched through some major streets in Ikeja, singing solidarity songs, to Alausa Secretariat to register their protest with the state government.

Mr Tayo Shittu, Chairman of the complex, told newsmen that they decided to continue the protest due to the 24-hour eviction notice they received from the task force on Thursday afternoon.

Shittu said the POWA Complex had over 400 shops belonging to over 1,000 traders and police officers’ wives.

He said they were also protesting against those who refused to obey the Lagos High Court injunction stopping the demolition of the complex, which had been duly served to the task force.

“They gave us 24 hours to vacate the complex, even when there was no prior notice of eviction. We believe some persons are using the task force to intimidate us.

“Some persons in the name developers are bent on taking over this place. We appeal to the I-G and his wife to save us from their hands.

“We have widows, retired officers and serving officers’ wives have their shops here. They should be respected,” he said.

Some traders told NAN that they celebrated Christmas without peace of mind due to the threat of demolition.

Mr Kelvin Ikechukwu, one of the traders, said he refused to travel to his hometown for the Christmas due to the threat of demolition, stressing that he didn’t want to be told that his goods were destroyed in absentia.

For Mr Yemi Aronilewa, another trader, said he travelled to Ibadan for Christmas but rushed back when he was told that the task force was planning to demolish the complex.

“Some traders that travelled sent messages to those around to save their goods should the task force carry out the demolition,” he said. (NAN)

•Traders protesting against planned demolition of POWA Complex, Computer Village, Ikeja, on Friday in Lagos

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