Traders at Owode International Motor Spare Parts Dealer market, Owode-Onirin have accused the Lagos State Government of deliberately demolishing their market in what they described as a “conspiracy at the highest order.”
Addressing journalists on Wednesday during a press conference, at Owode-Onirin, Lagos, the traders also reacted to a statement attributed to CP Olohundare Moshood Jimoh, the Commissioner of Police following a visit to the market on January 30, 2026.
During the visit, the Lagos State Police Command boss reportedly said land grabbers carried out the demolition.
Owode-Onirin market demolished by Govt – Traders
But members of Working Committee led by Abiodun Hameed, a representative of the traders dismissed the statement, describing it as misleading and inconsistent with facts available to the traders.
According to Hameed, “That statement is an understatement and does not reflect the facts and evidence in our possession.”
“The Owode-Onirin market was demolished by the Lagos State Government, with all the ramifications.”
Hameed said the Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market had existed for more than 60 years and was formally relocated to its current location in 1979 through the intervention of a former governor after the government acquired their previous site.
“We have remained law-abiding citizens, carrying out our trading activities peacefully and paying all required dues and taxes to government agents,” Hameed said.
According to him, attempts to demolish the market began about two years ago during the tenure of Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area, Chairman Mr. Dele Osinowo.
“That period marked the beginning of sustained pressure on the market, which eventually led us to process documents with the state government,” Hameed said.
“The land was originally allocated by a former governor and later reconfirmed with a Certificate of Occupancy dated August 1, 2024.”
The traders alleged that the demolition involved officials of the Lagos State Building Control Agency, the Lagos State Task Force, Kick Against Indiscipline, the Nigerian Army and the police, with hundreds of fully armed officers present.
“This operation was carried out at the highest level,” Hameed said.
“The machinery used belonged to the state government, not land grabbers.”
The traders further alleged that after the demolition, one Engineer Akeem Abiodun Ariori arrived at the site with armed thugs who guarded the area and attacked market members.
“Our members were attacked, and six people lost their lives, yet, no government official condemned these killings,” Hameed alleged.
They said repeated petitions and peaceful protests yielded no response, including demonstrations at the Lagos State House of Assembly on March 28 and October 2, 2025.
“Another protest organised by concerned Lagos residents was violently dispersed,” the traders said.
“People were tear-gassed, beaten and injured.”
The traders appealed to the Federal Government, the National Assembly and Nigerians to intervene, saying petitions submitted to the National Assembly and the Presidency had not been acknowledged.
“We are legitimate residents of Lagos State. We pay our dues, yet we are treated as if we do not exist,” they said.
They urged the government to leave the market alone and allow them to continue their lawful means of livelihood, insisting that they possessed valid documents supporting their claims.
Meanwhile, Mr. Oluwasegun Owolabi, counsel to Engr. Ariori, on February 3, 2026, dismissed reports linking his client to the recent violence, which he said resulted in three deaths.
“My client has nothing to do with the violence,” Owolabi said.
“The land in dispute belongs to the Olowu family, which obtained valid court judgements and subsequently engaged Engr. Ariori to enforce those orders.”
He said the Olowu family and Ariori acted within the law, adding that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Olohundare Jimoh, participated in earlier enforcement processes.
“Both the Lagos State Government and the traders were aware that Engr. Ariori and the Olowu family were in lawful possession of the land,” Owolabi said.
According to him, Ariori acted strictly based on valid court judgements, including appellate decisions.
“At a stakeholders’ meeting, it was reportedly resolved that the land should be shared on a 60–40 basis between the Olowu family, represented by Engr. Ariori, and Agboyi-Ketu LCDA,” he said.
Owolabi added that the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), clarified at the meeting that allocation letters held by the traders did not amount to legal ownership.
He further alleged that despite the resolution, traders went on to destroy properties belonging to Ariori and the Olowu family.
“Engr. Ariori was not at the scene of the recent violence and did not participate in the chaos,” Owolabi said. “He is not a land grabber. He has never taken the law into his hands.”
The lawyer recalled that the dispute was previously referred to the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Zone 2, Mr. Adegoke Fayoade, and later discussed at a stakeholders’ meeting chaired by the Lagos State Attorney-General.
