Mob Attack: Chaos averted as market leaders rescue APC chieftain, Joe Igbokwe at Ladipo market

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has recounted how he narrowly escaped being attacked by a group of angry youths at the popular Ladipo Auto Spare Parts Market in Lagos State.

The APC stalwart disclosed the incident in a video shared on his official Facebook page on Saturday, dismissing reports circulating on social media that he was assaulted during the encounter.

According to Igbokwe, the incident occurred on Friday when he visited the bustling market to purchase spare parts for his vehicle. He explained that while searching for the items he needed, some traders and youths recognised him and began calling out his name, attracting attention from others in the market.

He said the situation quickly escalated as more people gathered around him, chanting his name and questioning his presence in the market. Sensing possible danger, Igbokwe said he immediately sought refuge in a friend’s shop within the market premises.

The former Lagos APC spokesman stated that the crowd continued to swell, prompting market leaders and other influential traders to intervene.

Their intervention, he said, helped to calm the situation and ensured his safe exit from the market without any physical confrontation.

Speaking in the video, Igbokwe maintained that despite the hostile atmosphere, he remained calm and avoided engaging the crowd. He stressed that claims suggesting he was beaten or attacked were completely false and misleading.

“I saw a report this morning claiming that Joe Igbokwe was beaten in Ladipo Market. That is not true. I was not beaten. I am fine and healthy. What happened was that some people gathered and shouted at me, but I left peacefully after the market leadership stepped in,” he said.

The APC chieftain expressed concern over the development and warned against a recurrence, noting that public figures should be able to move freely without fear of intimidation or harassment.

The incident has since generated reactions on social media, with supporters and critics debating the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.

As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from the Lagos State Police Command regarding the episode.