Several traders were left injured in a renewed hostility which broke out on Thursday at the popular Owode Motor Spare Parts Market, Lagos, following the alleged invasion of the market by heavily armed policemen and thugs in a renewed wave of demolitions.

According to traders at the scene, the early morning operation involved the use of caterpillars to demolish shops. At the same time, police operatives fired shots into the air to disperse resisting market occupants.

Information from eyewitnesses, supported by pictorial and video evidence, revealed that many traders were injured in the fracas, which lasted for many hours.

This incident followed an earlier raid on March 6, 2025, during which over 500 shops were demolished, sparking widespread protests. A formal petition was subsequently submitted to both the Lagos State House of Assembly and Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on March 27. With no governmental intervention forthcoming, affected traders turned to the courts.

The case, handled by B.I. Olowu vs Shomolu and Kosofe Local Governments (Suit No. ID/1757/1994) is currently before an Ikeja High Court, which on June 2 issued an injunction ordering all parties to maintain the status quo pending the next hearing scheduled for July 2, 2025.

Reacting to the fracas, the Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR), through its President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, appealed to the Assistant Inspector General of Police, Zone 2, and the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, CP Moshood Jimoh, to intervene immediately.

?Today, Thursday, June 19, 2025, we reliably gathered that the land grabbers mobilised hundreds of thugs and fully armed policemen in their dozens to invade the Owode Motor Spare Parts Market this morning to demolish shops, while the policemen were shooting sporadically to scare the traders from stopping the land grabbers caterpillar from destroying their shops and has injured some traders.

?We hereby use this medium in calling on the AIG Zone 2 and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos Command, CP. Moshood Jimoh, to quickly call the policemen to order, as there is a Lagos High Court order of status quo pending the determination of the suit before the court.

?We hereby appeal to the police authorities to quickly address these issues as a matter of urgency to avoid the breakdown of public order and safety, as a delay in enforcing discipline may lead to an incitement of the public.

This is the best time to promote and sustain the rule of law, as the parties concerned in the Owode Motor Spare Parts Market have their matter before a court of competent jurisdiction.

?This is a clear violation of the rule of law,? said Omotehinse, stressing that ?continued police involvement in defiance of a court order threatens public peace and erodes confidence in legal institutions.?

One of the aggrieved traders, Solomon Joel, expressed fear that if the action is not urgently suspended, there could be a breakdown of law and order. Community leaders are calling on police authorities to investigate the actions of the officers involved and ensure justice is served.

All efforts to get a response from the Lagos State Police Command were unsuccessful, as calls made to the PPRO?s mobile phone didn?t connect. (The Guardian)

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