12th March, 2015
Cyriacus Izuekwe
There was a bloody clash between traders and cemetry attendants on Wednesday at Ladipo Market in Mushin, Lagos, western Nigeria, after the cemetry attendants formed a parallel executive.
Many traders were wounded following the clash during which guns, machetes and axes were freely used.
The market was temporary closed before the police intervened and restored peace.
The fighting which paralysed activities in the market was between the leadership of the market’s central body called Ladipo Auto Central Executive, LACEC and cemetry attendants led by Monday Lawrence.
P.M.NEWS gathered that some cemetry attendants printed some receipts and started collecting park and toll fees and allocating spaces on the roadside and collecting other tolls accruing to LACEC in the market.
An attempt by a LACEC task force member identified as Ndubuisi to stop them resulted in the bloody clash after other taskforce members who saw what happened to Ndubuisi, regrouped and a serious fighting broke out.
When our correspondent visited the market, the whole area was rowdy and some traders shut their shops and left the market.
Operatives of the State Anti-Robbery Squad deployed to restore peace were seen in their vehicle at the market.
At least eight people were arrested. Efforts to speak with the outgoing president, Mr Ikechukwu Animalu and Lawrence who is the leader of the new group proved abortive as their phones were switched off.
The welfare officer of LACEC, Chief Ajuluchukwu Ezeanya, who confirmed the incident, promised to speak later on the matter.
The market recently conducted an election which produced new executives led by Comrade Kinsley Ogunor as President.
With the emergence of the new group led by Lawrence, who also participated in the election, it means two executives have emerged in the market.