Ladipo Market Crises: Weekly N5m Illegal Tolls Banned At Market

P.M.EXPRESS gathered that one of the major steps taken was the immediate stoppage of any form of illegal tolls in the market which has been the bone of contention and the cause of crises in the market.

Our correspondent gathered that over N5 million were being collected weekly illegally as tolls from the traders, which also has led to an increase in street trading in the area.

P.M.EXPRESS authoritatively gathered that the outcome of the peace initiative move on the lingering crises and violence in the market initiated by the council and the police has yielded positive result.

Our correspondent gathered that two factions in the market both led by Comrade Kingsley Ogunor of the Central Body and Monday Lawrence have been involved in violence clashes which have resulted in the death of one Utazi and a malicious damage in the market.

While Directorate of Public Prosecution have directed that Lawrence and some of his group should be charged with murder, Ogunor and some of his executives were remanded in prison over allegation of malicious damage on Lawrence’s property.

Some of the traders who welcomed the development, however expressed reservation on how it will work.

One of the traders, simply identified as Greg, confirmed that the crises in Ladipo which has been lingering for some years was precipitated by the illegal money derived from street trading and tolling in the market.

He said the money is so huge that those who have tasted it will do anything possible to maintaining it.

“How do you think they will stop it considering the amount they make everyday on illegal tolls? Who will see free money and allow it to be stopped?” he said.

However, police sources insisted that the directive must be complied with while the police is determined to enforce the order for peace in the market.

The source also told our correspondent that three suspects have been arrested from both factions and arraigned in court for flouting the order by collecting illegal tolls.

However, this seems not to deter some members of the groups in the market as P.M.EXPRESS findings revealed that the collection was still going on with the police seem to lack capacity to address the enforcement of the rule as they have threatened.