20th April, 2015
The Executive Secretary of Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, western Nigeria, Mr Babajide Bello has threatened to close down Ladipo Market if the crisis rocking the auto spare parts market persists.
Bello, who gave the warning at the weekend during interaction with journalists, said he cannot fold his hands and watch total break down of law and order in Mushin by the warring factions.
He said he was aware of the lingering crises in the market and was ready to arrest the situation so that it will not escalate.
On his efforts, he said he has invited the two parties involved in the matter, the executives of the traders and Monday Lawrence, the leader of cemetery workers, for discussion.
He said he was aware that the cemetery was contracted to Lawrence but does not know if the contract involved collection of tolls in the market on behalf of Mushin LG.
Bello noted that the warring factions are from Igbo extraction and he cannot understand why they cannot settle their rift amicably.
For the past weeks, there has been crisis in the market between the traders and cemetery workers over collection of tolls from traders.
The crisis is between the traders under the umbrella of Ladipo Central Executive Committee, LACEC, led by Comrade Kinsley Ogunor and cemetery workers led by Monday Lawrence.
Trouble started after Lawrence faction disbanded the executives of the market and took over the management of the market.
LACEC executives alleged that Lawrence and his group printed receipts and started collecting tolls in the market without informing the LACEC officials.
An attempt by the LACEC task force to stop them resulted in boody clash in the market.
Many traders were wounded following the clash last Thursday and early Friday during which guns, machetes and axes were freely used before the police later brought the situation under control.
Bello noted that the warring factions are from Igbo extraction and he cannot understand why they cannot settle their rift amicably.
It was not the first time the groups were fighting at the market. Last month, there was fighting and eight workers were arrested and charged before Ebutt Metta Magistrates’ court for causing mayhem in the market dominated by Igbo auto spare parts traders.
On Tuesday last week, another fight broke out which left some traders injured before Thursday’s fighting which spilled over to Friday last week.
Trouble started when some cemetery workers stormed the market with the aid of some military officers.
The workers started moving round the market and ringing bell to announce that the executive of the market has been dissolved and they were now in charge of the market.
When LACEC task force members attempted to stop them, fighting broke out.