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Family Members Of Victims Of Owode Onirin Motor Spare Parts Markets Killings Cry For Justice …Demand Removal of Lagos Attorney General, Others

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3 months ago

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Families of hapless traders gruesomely murdered at the Owode Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market in Lagos State on Wednesday, have cried out for justice as many of them were said to have met their untimely death while eking a living on the fateful day.
Speaking at a press conference jointly addressed by the Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) and elders of the market, on the killing of some traders by trigger happy Police officers allegedly working for an alleged notorious land grabber, Mr. Hakeem Abiodun Ariori, at Rights House, Adeniyi Jones, Ikeja on Friday, family members of the deceased recounted their ordeals while stating the compounded problematic situation they are grappling with owing to the sad development.
An elder in the market, Prince Adekunle Adenugba listed some names of the murdered traders as Mr. Adeoye Taiwo, Mr. Adewale Adebayo Matthew, Mr. Ibrahim Idowu, Mr. Akinboye Oluwaseyi and two others.
According to Adenugba, “since 1979 that we have been there, the Wednesday tragedy is unprecedented.”
The CHSR National President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse while addressing newsmen said that the government must ensure that justice is served on the extra judicial killings and demanded the “Immediate arrest and prosecution of Mr. Abiodun Hakeem Ariori for murder, unlawful demolition, and acts of terrorism against Owode Onirin traders.
“We want public disclosure of the identities of the four police officers involved, with full investigation, prosecution, and dismissal where guilty, removal of Lagos State Attorney General, Mr. Lawal Pedro SAN, for partisanship, bias, and complicity in aiding a land grabber, adequate and full compensation and medical support for the victims’ families and the injured traders.
“We are also demanding permanent protection of Owode Onirin Market, with security agencies deployed to prevent further violence and an end to state cover-ups, instruments of the state must never wait until citizens are massacred before taking action.”
Some of the family members of the murdered traders, who were also available to register their plights all called for justice for the deceased.
A brother to one of the slain young men, claimed that his brother; Adewale was on his way to buy food when he got hit by gunshot and died before help could get to him.
“Please, people behind this should not go unpunished. All we call for is justice. They believe they have all the powers to do whatever they like; we have none but we are citizens of this country and that of the state and I believe that the Governor of the state has heard about this issue, but nothing has been done to address it and come to our aid, please we want justice.
“More than nine people, including school children, died in the incident,” he said.
Mrs Taiwo Eunice Oyero, whose child was killed during the incident,  painted a gory tale of how her son died.
“I gave birth to Taiwo Adeoye, he was an apprentice in Owode and he was well behaved. What happened to me on Wednesday is very painful, he was my first child. I have been like a living corpse since that day.
“I ought not to come here today, but I was forced to come, Nigerians should please come to my aid. I don’t know where to start from, his newly wedded wife lives with me.
“I have been responsible for their daily needs including those of his younger ones. Please for God’s sake, let me not suffer in vain. My son was not involved in any cult activities, he did not drink alcohol or smoke, he was not into yahoo.
“He chose to be an apprentice because I am a trader, this is a huge loss to me,”  she said.
Mr. Abiodun Temilola, father of the late Idowu Abraham Temilola, said in an interview that his son went to work from Ogijo where he lived before he met his untimely death.
“I live in Agric and I heard that they were fighting in Owode. I heard gunshots and those that knew me called to inform me that my son got hit by bullet fired at the scene of the fracas, he was the first child of his mother.
“He has two wives and three children, they are all living with me now. I don’t know what to do because the responsibility is enormous for me because my own family needs be catered for too.
“Nigerians should come to my aid. I demand justice for the dead boy. He died while trying to escape the scene, he was not fighting anyone,” he said.
Olayemi Morufu, a brother and master to one of the victims; Seyi Akinboye said, “he got to the market on Wednesday ahead of me as my apprentice. He picked a plate to buy food, and on his way, he was shot by the police shot and he died instantly.
 “I am pleading with Nigerians, Ariori and his cohorts should not go unpunished. Seyi’s three children and wife are now with me. I cannot inform his mum that he is dead. I don’t know what to do, is it a crime for someone to come to work?”
Lekan Akinpelu, one of the elders of the market, corroborated all the explanations with a trajectory of all that transpired in the market historically on the day, and charged Governor Babajide Sanwo Olu to live up to expectation by ensuring security of lives and properties in the state.
He added that President Bola Tinubu should wade into the situation to proffer a lasting peace.
“Ariori should be arrested and prosecuted alongside his thugs who brought mayhem to Owode on the fateful Wednesday.
“The Police DPO and SO in Owode must be removed for negligence and complicity, as well as Musa, one of the police officers there.
“The Attorney General of Lagos State, Lawal Pedro must also be shown the way out of office for the role he played in the whole saga,” he said.
A human rights activist, Comrade Shina Loremekan noted that, “It is not the duty of government to commit extra judicial killings. The three arms of government should allow the river of justice to flow unhindered.
“This extra judicial killing violated our national law and other existing human rights treaties and acts. The President went overseas to seek foreign investments that will be threatened with the rising spate of extra judicial killings.”
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