One dead as highly-exploited Igbo traders clash with Yoruba touts in Ladipo Market Lagos State

One dead as highly-exploited Igbo traders clash with Yoruba touts in Ladipo Market Lagos State

One person was confirmed dead as highly-exploited Igbo traders at the Ladipo Market in the Oshodi area of Lagos, on Thursday protested against continuous extortion by touts under the command of the Lagos State government. Monday Ijoba is alleged to be the head of the touts who continually harass the Igbo traders.


It was learnt that Ijoba and his gang members were reportedly employed by the local government authority in the area to collect charges from the traders.

Monday Ijoba’s boys had attacked a trader, who challenged them on the extortion last week. The trader was seriously injured and was said to have died.

The trader’s death provoked the Thursday’s protest, which started around 9am, and paralyzed all commercial activities in the market.

The rioters openly hurled bottles and other weapons at Ijoba’s gang members.

Displaying placards: “Monday, enough is enough”, among others, the traders chanted war songs. The market is dominated by Igbo, who sell spare parts, electronics and others.

Policemen and soldiers mobilized to the scene and began firing shots at the protesters. 

Punch reports that a trader, whose identity had yet to be identified, was hit by one of the bullets and died, while some others were injured.

The fracas lasted for a few hours before the security operatives were able to restore normalcy to the area.

A trader, who identified himself as Chibuzor, said Monday Ijoba had been chased out of the market, adding that he would not be allowed to lord it over them.

But another trader, who identified himself only as Emeka, urged the state government to intervene in the tussle to forestall further breakdown of law and order.

He said, “As long as Monday (Ijoba) insists that he is in control of the market, peace will not reign because people do not want him. I just want the government to come in and settle the matter amicably. We cannot afford to lose more persons to this protest.”

Lagos police commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, has invited all the parties to his office to resolve the issues.