I have personally and officially followed closely, the case of Ladipo market, Mushin LGA Lagos. I assert that the closing down of Ladipo market by the Lagos State Government and the arrest, detention and dehumanizing of Igbo traders in that market is a clear case of oppression and injustice by powerful, primordial forces intent on dislodging the traders, dispossessing them of their assets and taking over a market they built with their own sweat and resources.

This is the culmination of a long-drawn scheme and ceaseless attempts by these self-serving and base individuals and forces to forcefully and illegally throw out the traders and take over their market, in utter violation of subsisting agreements that the traders will run the market for a specified period of time having spent their money constructing structures in the market.

The claims of 'environmental degradation','obstruction of traffic and drainage' etc are fraudulent pretext and sheer subterfuge for what is apparently a case of ethnic persecution fuelled by hatred and the individual avarice of some people who have over the years nursed the ambition to take over the market- and have on several occasions- and up to December 2012, used both the police and thugs to harass, intimidate, hound and even made attempts on the lives of the leadership and members of the traders association. A section of the media has also been employed to propagate falsehood in furtherance of the dubious agenda of the masterminds of this wicked act. Those innocent traders branded 'bakasi boys' and currently detained by the police must be released. The issues leading to, and surrounding, the closure of the market should be transparently investigated and truth and justice must prevail!

Okechukwu Nwanguma
Advocacy Coordinator
Network on Police Reform in Nigeria

http://saharareporters.com/article/enough-oppression-and-injustice-against-igbo-traders-lagos-state

@insecure9gerian, did you check the website you got the article from? na sahara reporters o

INSECURE9IGERIAN aka FASHOLA HATER aka FAILED NATIVE DOCTOR IFEANYI aka BEAF REINCARNATE aka GEJ'S CORCK SUCKER aka GEJ'S A$$ LICKER aka PATIENCE JONATHAN'S SH1T EATER aka 40 MAN LAPTOP SQUAD NUMBER 001

I've been reading alot of articles recently about the attitude of the Lagos state govt towards Igbos in the state. What is going on?

I've not commented on this issue because of inadequate information but I cant understand how state govt officials will abruptly close a market as big and old as Ladipo?

If there are issues like environmental sanitation and all that, is the solution to such problems complete closure? Do we cut off the head because of headache?

This attitude of decapitating means of lively hood of the poor because of one flimsy (or even genuine concerns) reason or the other is wicked. Okada is constituting nuisance, ban Okada. There are environmental challenges in Ladipo market, close the market. What about the thieving politicians? Do we now ban them too?

Decapitation cannot be the only solution to these problems. I thought they said some 'progressive' minded persons are charge of Lagos? These persons are being paid to proffer solutions to problems. If the only solution they can proffer at any given time is decapitation, then they'r USELESS

Actually,i witnessed oppression of Igbo people in Lagos first hand.its nothing to write home about.However,i have said it before that Igbo people living in Lagos should try to understand that Nigeria is not one and as such,try to meet the condition of their host government because anytime they(igbos) go against it,it will be perceived differently. So,when you look at the reasons given by Lagos state govt,you'll discover that Lagos state govt have a point though their point is not enough to warrant an immediate closure to the market.Igbos should try and stop giving their host state an opportunity to destroy/harm them.they should do everything possible to avoid being caught by the snares of their host state.

"Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice anywhere" "Those who sow wind, will reap whirlwind, indeed hurricane!"

As Fashola and his cohorts continue with their campaign of hatred and congenital detestation for non-indigenes, especially Igbos, let them know that their scheming and devices will come to nought. In the end, he will fail miserably in this grand scheme to dispossess the poor and weak , and enrich his cronies and godfathers; whatever credibility he thinks he has, he is losing day by day.

How can you hound and bound hardworking traders with security agents, with frivolous reasons, while criminals and terrorists are on the prowl? This will certainly come back to haunt him.

ANYBODY THAT FEELS DISENCHATED WITH GOVERNOR FASHOLA'S PROGRESSIVE POLICIES IN LAGOS STATE SHOULD KINDLY RELOCATE TO MAIDUGURI

All you shouting marginalization. were you all in coma when Ketu market was closed? Abi na Ibo get that one too? What of yaba market that was dimolished. I guess what Ibos want is either all other tribes vacates Lagos for them or they should be exempted from obeying Lagos laws.

;DStory story, water will always find its level. if them like make them pursue the whole igbo from Lagos, they will still come back and outsmart all the yoruba from the whole markets, its in the blood, water will always find its level so, chillax

Ketu market, Mile-12 market, Mushin Market were all closed due to sanitary issues at one point or the other. Are they Igbo markets?? No. Pls, give this story a rest and stop being paranoid.

bigass: All you shouting marginalization. were you all in coma when Ketu market was closed? Abi na Ibo get that one too? What of yaba market that was dimolished. I guess what Ibos want is either all other tribes vacates Lagos for them or they should be exempted from obeying Lagos laws.

How many people were arrested and treated inhumanly during those exercises? Why would they parade traders on news media as common criminal? When did security services (reported as the job of the arrested individuals) become a crime? To the extent that dual use items such as machetes (used for clearing shrubs and bushes), batons, wooden hangers, etc became dangerous weapon.

This is nothing but blatant abuse of power and sheer wickedness by fashola; the overall agenda here is hate and malice for the sake of it. especially against the weak and non indigene.

ba7man: Ketu market, Mile-12 market, Mushin Market were all closed due to sanitary issues at one point or the other. Are they Igbo markets?? No. Pls, give this story a rest and stop being paranoid.

You'r getting it wrong. This is not temporary closure. The state govt said they'r relocating the market.

Sincere 9gerian:
You'r getting it wrong. This is not temporary closure. The state govt said they'r relocating the market.

same way Amaechi is relocating the ikokwu spare market to the greater port harcourt area.

PointB:

How many people were arrested and treated inhumanly during those exercise. Why would they parade traders on news media as common criminal? When did security services (reported as the job of the arrested individuals) become a crime? To the extent that dual use items such as machetes (used for clearing shrubs and bushes), batons, wooden hangers, etc became dangerous weapon.

This is nothing but blatant abuse of power and sheer wickedness by fashola; the overall agenda here is hate and malice for the sake of it. especially against the weak and non indigene.

So citizens found illegally possessing arms and ammunitions should be left alone just because they're igbo? What are 'harmless traders' doing with guns? When Makoko was demolished and a chief was shot by the popo, nobody screamed tribalism. When Mile12 was shut down last year, arrests were also made.

If by not allowing our state degenerate into the insecure shi.thole the SE is rapidly becoming, we are branded bigots then so be it.

gidiMonsta:

So citizens found illegally possessing arms and ammunitions should be left alone just because they're igbo? What are 'harmless traders' doing with guns? When Makoko was demolished and a chief was shot by the popo, nobody screamed tribalism. When Mile12 was shut down last year, arrests were also made.

If by not allowing our state degenerate into the insecure shi.thole the SE is rapidly becoming, we are branded bigots then so be it.

Define arms and ammunition, in relation to what was found on them?

It's easy to bandy words around when you are not in their shoe. What weapons were recovered from them?

I'm not buying the whole injustice against Igbos just yet since other markets have been closed in the state. My grouse is that, how does one explain a situation whereby the government of the day takes the easiest way out of a problem without minding those that it will affect. This has been a characteristic of the LASG. They should profer a solution to the problem rather than cutting off both the problem and the people that they're supposed to be protecting. Like someoe said, we don't cut off our head just because we have headache.

Nigerians are not qualified to sit in a room where democracy, as system of government, is discussed talk less conduct it. Nigerian styled so-called democracy breeds bigots, despots and diabolical fools. The environmental issues of any market are sole responsibilities of local government that collect taxes. If Nigeria is close to being country instead of jungle, the molested traders can sue the Lagos State government for it’s worth.

otokx: same way Amaechi is relocating the ikokwu spare market to the greater port harcourt area.

I dont how established that market is but there are markets you dont just wake up and say you want to relocate.

You better brace up for the next phase of Lagos clean up - All gala, belt, indecency, tv antennas and toothbrush sellers should go look for traffic holdup at river Niger or Abuja.

Afam4eva: I'm not buying the whole injustice against Igbos just yet since other markets have been closed in the state. My grouse is that, how does one explain a situation whereby the government of the day takes the easiest way out of a problem without minding those that it will affect. This has been a characteristic of the LASG. They should profer a solution to the problem rather than cutting off both the problem and the people that they're supposed to be protecting. Like someoe said, we don't cut off our head just because we have headache.

What solution do you suggest the state look.for before taking action?

Solution to their lack of common sense that it is your civic responsibility not to pollute the environment with their indiscriminate dumping of hazardous materials and fluids that pollute the underground water table that we all consume?

Solution to their lack of common sense when they trash and block the canals with garbage and ignite mass flooding?

Solution to their inability to obey the law and yield to several warnings to clean up or get shut down?

Solution for them not to turn our markets into lawless armed enclaves with no.respect for local and state authority?



What solution exactly are you talking about?

inasmuch as I try to ignore the shyte this blockhead insincere9ja just spewed.but I think he has to be taken to the cleaners where his sh.itty soul belong.why y'all whining like epileptic toddlers.loads of markets has been closed for sanitation reason in lagos.yaba,mile 12 and lots other the people didn't scream blue murder like y'all simpletons. is either y'all obey our law or y'all get your a55 to wherever you come from.please uncle fash go check up other of there market if the environmental laws are not observed there beg close the gaddem place mehn.this unnecessary whining from suppose adult make me wanna puke.

Eko Ile:

What solution do you suggest the state look.for before taking action?

Solution to their lack of common sense that it is your civic responsibility not to pollute the environment with their indiscriminate dumping of hazardous materials and fluids that pollute the underground water table that we all consume?

Solution to their lack of common sense when they trash and block the canals with garbage and ignite mass flooding?

Solution to their inability to obey the law and yield to several warnings to clean up or get shut down?

Solution for them not to turn our markets into lawless armed enclaves with no.respect for local and state authority?



What solution exactly are you talking about?

Then the whole of Idumota especially the area covering Ashogbon to Iga idungaran should be closed to human inhabitation. A place where Shyte can fall on your head from nowhere ( talking out of experience), where residents connect sewage pipes into shallow gutters and you keep seeing poo pass in front of your shop on an onward journey to the lagoon. It was here that Shyte poured on me from a burst pipe and this is a regular occurrence. This is a place where there is no space for emergency services should there be and incident and yet the government allows people to live there.

Eko Ile:

What solution do you suggest the state look.for before taking action?

Solution to their lack of common sense that it is your civic responsibility not to pollute the environment with their indiscriminate dumping of hazardous materials and fluids that pollute the underground water table that we all consume?

Solution to their lack of common sense when they trash and block the canals with garbage and ignite mass flooding?

Solution to their inability to obey the law and yield to several warnings to clean up or get shut down?

Solution for them not to turn our markets into lawless armed enclaves with no.respect for local and state authority?



What solution exactly are you talking about?

The same solution that was profered in major Lagos streets. No street in Lagos was closed because it was dirty. The government should treat these markets as part of Lagos state and it's the responsibility of the LASG either through an agency of government or the Local government council to make sure that these markets are clean.

Eko Ile:

What solution do you suggest the state look.for before taking action?

Solution to their lack of common sense that it is your civic responsibility not to pollute the environment with their indiscriminate dumping of hazardous materials and fluids that pollute the underground water table that we all consume?

Solution to their lack of common sense when they trash and block the canals with garbage and ignite mass flooding?

Solution to their inability to obey the law and yield to several warnings to clean up or get shut down?

Solution for them not to turn our markets into lawless armed enclaves with no.respect for local and state authority?



What solution exactly are you talking about?

It is the government’s responsibility to clean up places such as market square. The government of Fashola in Lagos State has failed abysmally to lead by examples. Whatever you and airheads in Lagos State government called hazardous materials and fluids seemed to have been identified. Yet the government of Fashola has not proffer simple solutions such as collection tanks and crushing machine foe scrap metals. Governance is far from ceremonial cutting of ribbons and smiling like jackasses in front of camera lens.

Fasola is doing well. Several warnings had been issued, no action , not even a single step was taken to toe the line of common sense.
Health is wealth. If the traders can not follow simple rule of keeping the market clean, then they have no business doing business there.

Afam4eva:
The same solution that was profered in major Lagos streets. No street in Lagos was closed because it was dirty. The government should treat these markets as part of Lagos state and it's the responsibility of the LASG either through an agency of government or the Local government council to make sure that these markets are clean.

What's your point exactly? That the market should be allowed to operate in filthiness?

When the issue of pollution and environmental degradation raised one question that always come up in my mind is, if lagos state Govt is sincere to the public, can they explain what stopped lawma or whatever their name is from cleaning and taking out the dirty stuffs which the traders usually pay them for on monthly basis?

In the other thread i said it that Nigeria police is the most unprofessional police i ever seen. How can a police that supposed to be close to the citizens turned out to be a tools for politicians to use against the poor citizens, my heart bleed for this poor fellows because i know what they must be going through.

Prof Corruption:

What's your point exactly? That the market should be allowed to operate in filthiness?

If that's what you got from my post then i can't help you. Goodluck.

Sincere 9gerian:
I dont how established that market is but there are markets you dont just wake up and say you want to relocate.

Too big to fail? Same way Oshodi was too big to touch?

This is not an administration led by your clueless paymaster. There is no too big to touch in Lagos if simple rule of 'taking your health seriously' is not given deserved priority.

Afam4eva:
If that's what you got from my post then i can't help you. Goodluck.

As if you can help yourself! Let them go and be making their 100billion naira a day somewhere in filthiness.

Not in this new Lagos we are building.

Prof Corruption: Fasola is doing well. Several warnings had been issued, no action , not even a single step was taken to toe the line of common sense.
Health is wealth. If the traders can not follow simple rule of keeping the market clean, then they have no business doing business there.

My friend will you close your mouth before i smack your fat thick neck and lips, do you know how much these people pay monthly to tinumbu/fashola sanitation agency call lawma? What stopped them from performing their duty when the Govt of lagos had made it compulsory that environmental sanitation contract must be awarded to them.

Prof Corruption:

As if you can help yourself! Let them go and be making there 100billion naira a day somewhere in filthiness.

Not in this new lagos we are building.

Maybe when your source of livelihood is taken away by this Lagos that we are building, your slogan will become: "This Lagos that i'm leaving" or "This ekiti that we are building".