Victor EzejaCrisis has engulfed the Alaba International Market Ojo in Lagos leading to shutdown due to persistent clash between traders and touts for the past two days.
Eyewitnesses said two have been killed while many have been injuired in the fight between traders and some miscreants, over ticket collection at the market.
Join our WhatsApp ChannelPrime Business Africa gathered that the traders staged resistance to a plan by a group to establish illegal toll collection parks inside the market.
A trader in the market, Celestine who spoke to Prime Business Africa said the conflict started on Tuesday when taskforce of the traders stopped the touts from extorting motorists and customers.
Celestine said the plan is to use the establishment of the parks inside the market as a ploy to gain more ground and continue to impose illegal collections, thereby creating more tax burdens for the traders as they do in some other markets in Lagos.
Another eyewitness who refused to mention his name said the miscreants went and brought bad boys to join them in attacking the traders who stoutly resisted their plans to continue extorting motorists and customers.
A video circulating on social media platforms seen by our correspondent show some boys in a sections of the market brandishing cutlasses, sticks, and others hurling stones, and other dangerous objects at one another as the fight raged.
The crisis forced the leadership of the market to order closedown of businesses till further notice as people scampered for safety in the ensuing conflagration.
In a statement on Thursday, the Alaba International Amalgamated Traders Association said it became imperative to close the market in order to save lives first.
Lamenting the ordeals of traders in the market, part of the statement reads:
“The extreme extortion going on, especially between Volkswagen bus stop and Alaba market is becoming so unbearable as traders are made to pay a fully cleared container or a truck a whooping sum of N70,000 to N100,000 before they can be allowed to convey their goods to the market; it is the same for those supplying goods from their warehouses.
“For traders who cannot afford or who hesitate to pay are either beaten up or wounded. Sadly enough, only yesterday we woke up to the information that a new loading point was to be instituted on the already constricted Alaba road which has already been taken over by petty traders who were given portions to display wares to the detriment of existing shop owners, also completely defacing this market of international repute.
“To ensure this issue was handled amicably, the Alaba amalgamated leaders quickly contacted the executive chairman of Ojo Local Government who promised to call them to order, we also contacted the interim caretaker committee chairman who also promised to call them to order but surprisingly on Tuesday the 19th of October we were greeted with chaos in our market as hoodlums that we cannot quantify trooped into the market with guns, machete, and other dangerous weapons; shooting and maiming both buyers and traders who are doing their legitimate business to the extent that some were killed and several other wounded.
“To this end, we want to say enough is enough! The Alaba international market traders association has decided to shut down the entire market till further notice to avoid further loss of lives and property and will remain shut till:
“These criminals are arrested and brought to justice. The Removal of all kiosks/petty traders causing blockade along Alaba international market road. That all toll collection points will be at the Volkswagen bus stop and the chemists’ bus stop. The Reduction in outrageous fees collected from containers, trucks, and other vehicles,”.
It was also gathered that all traders in the market have been directed to stop any form of payment to the area boys from Monday in order to curb their excesses.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police command says it has arrested five persons in connection with the clash between traders and touts.
The command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, who confirmed the arrest to newsmen on Thursday, said only one dead body was recovered from area during the clash.
Hundeyin said more police operatives have been deployed to the place to quell the crisis.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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