How Soldiers Killed Ladipo Market Trader, Injured Many Over N3,500 Kick Starter

MICHAEL AKINOLA

Popular auto spare parts market, Ladipo Market, in Lagos State has been shut indefinitely after soldiers invaded the market, shot and killed a trader while many injured many over a N3,500 worth kick starter.

P.M.EXPRESS reports that the incident happened at Aguiyi Ironsi International axis of the Ladipo Market, where the trader, Felix Onu from Ohazara in Ebony State, was shot and he died on the spot while several other traders got injured and are in various hospitals, where doctors are battling to save their lives after the soldiers shot sporadically in the market.

The cause of the mayhem, which has kept many families in sorrow, was a soldier, whose identity is known. He was said to have bought a kick starter worth the amount in December 2020 and returned it to the seller on Tuesday and asked to refunded his money. He was taken to the Union inside the market in order to resolve the business transaction.

In the process, he became angry claiming that the traders were wasting his time. Hence, he contacted his colleagues at Air Force Base, who armed themselves and invaded the market. They shot sporadically and in the process killed the late Onu while injuring many traders before they managed to escape.

This was disclosed by the President of the market, Chief Jude Nwankwo, who said that the traders were devastated over the ugly incident.

He explained that he was not inside the market when the incident happened and was contacted on phone that Ladipo Market was boiling and many traders had been shot and killed.

Chief Nwankwo said he boarded bike from Lagos Island to the Market but by then the whole market was already under tensed situation and the traders wanted to revolt.

He said it was a big task for him to calm the situation and talk to traders and they obeyed him and did not move further to revolt over the killing.
Nwankwo said it was after then that he summoned the Chairman of the Unit, where the incident happened, to find out what happened and he narrated what really happened.
He said it was not the first time the soldiers have invaded the market attacking traders over business transactions but stressed that this incident was the worst because it involved killing of a trader, which was not necessary over matter that can be easily resolved by the Union.

Chief Nwankwo said for now the market has been shut indefinitely to mourn the deceased and ensure that those in various hospitals recover and later the traders will decide how to relate with soldiers on business transaction in future.

On the steps taken so far to get justice for the deceased, Nwankwo said the top Army officers have contacted the leadership of the market and every efforts will be made to ensure that the deceased and those shot during the mayhem get justice.

There has been reactions from traders, who lamented their frustration having business transactions with security agents especially the soldiers in the market.
They alleged that some security agents will buy spare parts from them and after using same for some months, they will return them and demand for their money as was the case that led to the killing of late Onu. 

On the claim by the Police that there was no casualty, Chief Nwankwo restated that 28-year-old trader, Felix Onu, was shot dead while four others: Chidinma Ifeanyi, Makeup Ekwuna, Ifeanyi Enyi and Chikezie Nlewem were injured and rushed to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital including others, who sustained several injuries.