26th February, 2016
Cyriacus Izuekwe
Lagos State Commissioner of Police, Fatai Owoseni has ordered the arrest of a cemetery attendant, Monday Lawrence, for his alleged role in the death of Anene Otasi., a trader at Ladipo market.
Otasi. Otasi died at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital ( LUTH) following the injuries he sustained during a violent clash between the traders and thugs allegedly led by Lawrence.
The late Otasi was brutally attacked and shot in the head by the thugs allegedly led by Lawrence to demolish Odo Aladura section of the market.
The traders resisted the move and chased the thugs away and in the process, Otasi was attacked with cutlass and also shot.
He was rushed to LUTH where he eventually died on Thursday.
The report of his death sparked violent reaction as the traders closed the market and began a violent protest in the market.
The cemetery located at the market where Lawrence is the attendant was set ablaze and workers chased away.
Shops and properties owned by Lawrence’s associates worth millions of naira were destroyed by the angry mob before Owoseni and his men brought the situation under control.
Owoseni urged the traders to calm down and go about their lawful duties as he had ordered the arrest of Lawrence and others involved in the attack that led to the death of Otasi.
For the past one week, there has been tension at Odo Aladura section of Ladipo market following a failed attempt to demolish over 2,000 shops in the market in Mushin, Lagos State, western Nigeria.
Fracas broke out after hundreds of thugs invaded the market with arms and two caterpillars and attacked the traders and attempted to demolish shops there.