Lagos, Nigeria — Families of victims of the violent clash at Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market have called on the Federal Government to intervene in what they describe as a case of injustice and neglect following the August tragedy that claimed seven lives.
The incident, which occurred on August 27, saw traders and suspected land grabbers engage in a bloody confrontation that left seven traders dead and a police officer critically injured. The prime suspect, Mr. Abiodun Ariori, CEO of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited, was declared wanted by the Lagos State Police Command after preliminary investigations.
One of the grieving parents, Mrs. Modupe Adeoye, whose son Hakeem Adeoye was among those killed, expressed deep sorrow over what she described as government indifference. She recounted how her 40-year-old son, a husband and father to a seven-month-old baby, was brutally murdered while at work.
“The Lagos State Government seems uninterested in addressing these deadly attacks. I am traumatised by the loss of my son. We call on the National Assembly and the Federal Government to intervene and ensure justice prevails,” Mrs. Adeoye pleaded.
The Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR), led by its president Mr. Alex Omotehinse, also joined the appeal, urging the National Assembly to prioritize the plight of the bereaved families. Omotehinse emphasized the psychological and financial trauma suffered by the victims’ dependents, describing the late traders as breadwinners whose sudden deaths have destabilized their households.
He further alleged that the killings occurred just a day after the demolition of over 1,000 shops, despite the fact that the matter was still pending before the Lagos High Court.
Omotehinse listed the victims as:
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Seyi Akinboye
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Adeoye Taiwo
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Dare Mufutau
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Hakeem Adeoye
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Abraham Idowu
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Wale Adebayo
According to him, the victims’ families have lost faith in the Lagos State judicial process, claiming that the suspect, Ariori, had boasted of political protection.
“We suspect foul play and possible compromise. That is why we now appeal for direct Federal Government intervention to secure justice for the deceased and their families,” he stated.
The group is demanding adequate compensation, medical support for victims’ families, and the deployment of security operatives to safeguard traders in the market and prevent further bloodshed.
Omotehinse recalled that before the killings, traders had staged peaceful protests, submitted letters, and filed petitions to both the Lagos State Government and the State Assembly, yet no concrete action was taken.