#EndLagosDemolitionNow looms! Activists demand justice for victims of Owode-Onirin massacre

My son was my breadwinner—Bereaved mother

 

By Bose Adelaja & Olatide Adewoyin

 

 

CITIZENS COMPASS—Some bereaved families who lost their relatives in the recent massacre at Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market, Lagos State, have called on the state government and the Nigeria Police to ensure that justice is served over the massacre.

The bereaved families who alleged the Police of complicity demanded the arrest of a suspected land grabber who was once declared wanted.

Addressing a World Press Conference in Ogba area of Lagos, on behalf of the victims, a human rights body, the Centre for Human and Socio -Economic Rights (CHSR), called on the Police to publish the names of four trigger-happy policemen indicted in the matter.

 

Citizens Compass reported that the massacre occurred on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, at the Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market.

 

 

Some bereaved family members lamented how they lost their loved ones to the massacre.

One of them, Alhaja Adeoye Omowunmi, said her son, 40 year-old Akeem Adeoye, a victim of the massacre, died on Sunday.

In an emotional laden voice, Alhaji Adeoye said her son was a pillar in her family.

According to her, Akeem left behind a seven-month-old baby.

She said the son underwent a surgery and the family had spent a fortune to resuscitate him. Unfortunately, he died on Sunday.

“My son was a spare parts dealer in the market. He sustained gunshot injuries and underwent a surgery before breathing his last breath on Sunday.

“Akeem was my bread winner who promised to establish me in business but all these were no more as he died on Sunday.” Said the bereaved mother.

Another victim, Mr Dauda Osukoya, said he lost his sibling, Seyi Akingboye, to the massacre.

“When I heard the news of the incident, I didn’t envisage that my younger brother would be among the victims until we saw his picture on social media. Coincidentally, our mother called to ask after her son but I lied to her that he had traveled to Libya. We later arrange for people to break the news for her and since then, she is yet to come to terms with the demise.” He said.

Also lamenting the incident, a plumber, Abiodun Temilola, who lost a 37-year-old son, Abraham Idowu, to the incident said the deceased left three children behind.

Addressing the press conference, CHSR President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, alleged the Lagos State Government of complicity for refusing to attend to his petition.

“We call on the Federal Ministry of Justice to take over this matter because the Lagos Ministry of Justice is an accomplice in this matter.

“We gather here today under a heavy cloud of grief, outrage, and moral duty. The Centre for Human and Socio -Economic Rights (CHSR) is deeply pained and horrified by the tragic massacre that occurred on Wednesday, August 27, 2025 at the Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market in Lagos State.

Black Wednesday 

“On that black Wednesday, armed thugs and four trigger-happy policemen, allegedly mobilized and sponsored by a notorious land grabber, stormed the Owode Motor Spare Part Market What followed was a carnage:

– Six innocent traders were gunned down in cold blood.

– Many sustained grievous injuries, some battling for survival in hospitals.

– Thousands of livelihoods were destroyed, families thrown into despair. The blood of hardworking traders, fathers, mothers, brothers, and breadwinners was spilled in broad daylight, not by criminals alone, but with the active involvement of those sworn to protect lives and property.

“This horror came shortly after the illegal demolition of over 1,000 shops, carried out despite the matter being before the Lagos High Court. This is not just violence. This is premeditated injustice.”

He gave the names of the victims as Messrs Seyi Akinboye, Adeoye Taiwo and Dare Mufutau.

Others were Aderemi Adeoye Hakeem, Abraham Idowu Temilola and Wale Adebayo.

He said the seventh, Akeem Adeoye, died on Sunday.

“These were not criminals, they were innocent Nigerians striving to earn an honest living, and they woke up that regrettable morning to go to their shops, but never returned home, as their blood was now crying for justice.

“Who will feed their children, wipe the tears of their widows and carry the burden of their aged parents? All these are begging for answers.”

Omotehinse said as families, friends and loved ones mourn the departed ones and survivours nurse their wounds, the mastermind of the attack works freely in the society.

He demanded in clear terms the Immediate arrest, questioning, prosecution and detention of the mastermind.

We want names, not shadows

“The Nigeria Police cannot continue to treat Nigerians with contempt: four police officers were identified at the scene of this bloodbath, who are they? What are their names and ranks? Who deployed them illegally to Lagos?

“We demand that their identities be published into the public domain immediately,and that they be prosecuted without delay. Anything less is complicity and cover – up. Their trial must serve as a deterrent to other uniformed men and women who abuse their weapons to spill innocent blood.

The complicity of Lagos State Government

“We must state it plainly: the Lagos State Government cannot wash its hands clean of this atrocity. For months, the Owode traders cried out for help. They wrote letters, staged peaceful protests and petitioned the state Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the Lagos State House of Assembly. Yet their cries fell on deaf ears. Their warnings were ignored. dismissed and now, their blood has been spilled.

Partnership with landgrabbees

“Their pain was worse, the menace of land grabbing under the disguise of “development” has become the new business of governance in Lagos as some unscrupulous public office holders are fingered in land grabbing to enrich themselves after retirement while poor families are stripped of their homes, shops, and means of survival.

“This madness must stop. The state exists to protect its citizens, not to ruin them. The Lagos State Government must end its partnership with land grabbers and return to the path of justice.”

Warns APC

“We cannot ignore the painful lessons of the past. If Lagos State continues on this path of repression, forced demolitions, and bloodshed, it risks igniting another uprising.

“If care is not taken, Lagos residents may be forced to rise again under the slogan #EndLagosDemolitionNow, just as the world witnessed during the #EndSARS protests at Lekki Tollgate.

“We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR to immediately caution Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and his agents, before Lagos once again becomes a theatre of blood and resistance.”

Demands

Immediate arrest, detention, and prosecution of Mr. Abiodun Hakeem Ariori.

2. Public disclosure and prosecution of the four police officers involved with their names, ranks, and full accountability must be made public.

3. Removal of the Lagos State Attorney General, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), for his alleged complicity and protection of a land grabber which has emboldened lawlessness.

4. Adequate compensation and medical support for families of the six slain traders and all the injured victims.

5. Permanent security deployment to Owode Onirin Market to protect traders and prevent future violence.

“This massacre is a stain on the conscience of Lagos State. It is a reminder that when the government fails to protect, it betrays its people.

“Today, we stand with the families of the slain. We stand with the traders of Owode Market and we stand with every Nigerian who still believes that justice must mean something in this land.

Justice delayed is justice denied, “justice ignored is justice buried, but justice demanded, as we demand today, can never be silenced.

“May the blood of the dead not be shed in vain.”

On the fateful Wednesday, August 27, 2025, the then spokesperson, Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement said, “The Lagos State Police Command swiftly responded to the recent unrest in the Owode Onirin area of Lagos State and restored normalcy, peace, law and order to the affected area.

“Consequent on the disturbance of public peace, law and order, blocking of highways and roads leading in and out of Owode Onirin Market as a result of the deadly clash between traders and land grabbers, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh personally led a combined team of Police detachment comprising personnel of the Command’s operations department, the Police Mobile Force, Rapid Response Squad, Tactical squads and Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to the affected area and normalcy was restored. The roads were reopened to traffic and people started going about their lawful businesses.

“To sustain the normalcy, the Commissioner of Police has retained the deployment of adequate police personnel at the scene of the incident to prevent resurgence of the crisis.

“During the clash between the traders and the land grabbers, three persons sustained fatal injuries and a Police Inspector was seriously injured. The three fatally injured persons were confirmed dead when they were rushed to the hospital by the Police, while the Police Inspector injured is in a critical and life-threatening condition at the hospital where he is receiving treatment.

“In the cause of preliminary investigation and prima facie evidence available, one Abiodun Ariori, CEO of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited, is connected to the deadly clash between the traders and the land grabbers. He is hereby declared wanted by the Lagos State Police Command as all efforts to effect his arrest and bring him to justice has so far proved abortive. It is very clear that he has gone into hiding.

“The wanted suspect, Abiodun Ariori, whose photograph is attached, with last known address in Egbeda, is dark in complexion. If seen, should be arrested and handed over to the nearest police station or call the Lagos State Police Command control room on 08063299264, 09053872208, 08127155150, email: lagosstatepolicecommandikeja@gmail.com or wherever he is, he should turn himself in at the nearest police station.

“In furtherance to ensuring justice and in compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, four policemen, brought in from outside Lagos State by the wanted suspected land grabber, were immediately identified and detained at the Command headquarters for orderly room trial for going on illegal duty with the wanted suspect. The outcome of the investigation into the case and the trial of the policemen will be made public.

“The Lagos State Police Command hereby wish to inform the general public that there was no tribal clash or disturbance between any ethnic groups and the others inside Balogun Market today. There was an incident of a free-for-all fight between some hoodlums and miscreants in the Balogun Market in the early hours of today at around 11am. During the fight, one Ebuka Adindu from Abia State stabbed one Sodiq Ibrahim from Kogi State to death and the said Ebuka Adindu in turn stabbed himself on the shoulder and became unconscious. He is currently under arrest in the hospital where he is being treated. Investigation into the matter will be concluded and he will be prosecuted after he has been discharged from the hospital. There was no loss of innocent lives or injury to any person or damage to goods and properties of marketers inside Balogun Market.

“The Lagos State Police Command wishes to reiterate that the incident is not a tribal clash but purely between miscreants and hoodlums around the Balogun Market. Normalcy has been restored. Marketers and the general public on the Island and other parts of Lagos State are encouraged to go about their businesses and other lawful endeavors without fear or apprehension.

“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh, calls on all residents to remain law-abiding and cooperate with the police Command to sustain existing peace in the state and not to spread fear in the mind of the public as Lagos is generally peaceful. “

Few days to the issuance of this press statement, the solicitors to Ariori has come out to exonerate their client from the matter.

Human rights bodies, Nigerians and social media influencers have called on the Nigeria Police Force to properly investigate the incident.