CALM RETURN TO LAGOS MARKET, AFTERMATH HOODLUMS, TRADERS CLASH

 

Calm has returned to one of the largest fruit Market in West Africa, the Ile Epo market. 

A section of the market located at Oke Odo, Agbado Oke Odo LCDA in Lagos State, was set on fire as hoodlums clashed with traders over bet money in the early hours of today.

Witnesses said the crisis started Wednesday evening and escalated Thursday morning. The police was drafted and were able to restore normalcy using tear gas and other anti riot tactics. 

“One of the traders in the market played lotto (bet Naija) and won N13,000 but was given N11,000 and because of the N2,000 balance which the he was not given fight ensued.

“The hoodlooms from the nearby refuse dump used the opportunity to start looting and burning property in the market. They looted a lot of shops, carted away food items and valuables.

“As I am speaking to you, we are not allowed to enter the market, as the police and public officers are currently there trying to totally calm the situation.

"As traders in highly perishable wares we have lost millions of naira to this unfortunate and avoidable crisis,” a trader, Babawale Hakeem offered our correspondent.

As a press time normalcy has returned to the market Hon Engr David Famuyiwa Agbado Oke Odo LCDA Chairman has visited the market for a first hand appraisal of the situation.