Tension In Ladipo Market; One Dies, 40 Vehicles Destroyed

Hoodlums, who were collecting land fees, on Tuesday invaded Oloruntoyin Street at the Ladipo Spare Parts Market in Mushin area of Lagos, and engaged the traders in a fight during which one person was killed, while several others were injured.

It was learnt that the hoodlums smashed bottles on the road and attacked the traders with cutlasses.

The hoodlums were said to have stormed the market to collect the land fees and the traders resisted them, an act that led to pandemonium during which the windscreens of about 40 vehicles were smashed.

According to Punch, when policemen attached to the Rapid Response Squad and Dalemo division arrived at the market, gunshots rent the air as the hoodlums engaged them in a shootout.

A man, identified only as Alaye, who reportedly led the hoodlums, was shot dead, while others were injured and had been rushed to a hospital.

Speaking with Punch at the scene, a trader who identified himself as Godwin, said despite the rainfall, the hoodlums laid siege to the market.

He said, “It was around 10am that we saw the hoodlums. They came with knives, cutlasses and rifles. I was going to my shop to move some goods out when the trouble started.

“They were all over Oloruntoyin Street, attacking traders. Everyone ran away during the mayhem. What caused the riot was that the hoodlums wanted to collect money from traders, but they were resisted.

“When police arrived in about four vans, the hoodlums brought out pump-action rifles and began shooting at the police. Someone was shot dead among the hoodlums.”

A source in the RRS told Punch that the police counted over 40 damaged vehicles in the market, and assisted to rush injured people to a hospital.

The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, said the Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni, had ordered investigation into the fracas, adding that normalcy had been restored.