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Tension at Alaba on
•Hoodlums shut down facility allegedly on Iyaloja General’s order
At the moment, traders at the Fancy and Furniture Dealers Association Section of the Alaba International Market, Lagos are going through a rough patch. They woke up on Friday, September 18, to see that their market had been shut allegedly on the orders of the President General of Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria, Chief Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, who is otherwise called the Iyaloja General of Nigeria. Several outlets in the market were allegedly broken into and goods worth millions of naira looted by the hoodlums.
On Monday, September 21, there was palpable tension in the market. Angry traders were visibly restlessness and were held in check by their leaders. They were particularly irked by what they termed an act of impunity against them.
Recalling how it all started, the Chairman of the Fancy and Furniture Section, Ndubuisi, Chukwuezi said: “At about 1 am on Friday, September 18, I was called by the Chief Security Officer of the market that some area boys were around to seal up the market. I drove down immediately and got there shortly after 2 am and saw our security men all disarmed. No fewer than 50 area boys were seen milling around the market. They came in three buses and sealed up the market with padlocks and chains. Some of them broke into the shops that were in the front section.
“After accomplishing their mission, they pasted a notice titled: ‘Re: Closure of Fancy and Furniture Section of Alaba International Market.’ I invited you to a meeting but you refused to show up. In view of the above, FANCY AND FURNITURE SECTION of Alaba International Market thereby (sic) close.’
“When I got to the market area, I parked my vehicle at a reasonable distance and from there I watched the proceedings. Shortly after, they all boarded their buses and left. They took away everything our security men had. It was after they had left that I drew near to have a bigger picture of what happened.
“It was then that I noticed a letter signed by Chief (Mrs.) Folashade Tinubu-Ojo pasted on the wall, directed us to call 08038348871 for further information.”
As at Monday, the traders were visible angry and it showed. Despite the simmering anger, they were however law abiding. Explaining how they were able to hold their patience, Chukwuezi said: “I called the Commissioner of Police, the Area Commander and the Divisional Police Office in charge of Ojo and told them what happened. We were directed to reopen the market but to shun any thing that might lead to violence.
“Then yesterday the area boys came again threatening to seal the market. It was the police that ordered us to reopen the market. It was then that we decided the matter had gone too far and we might break our silence.”
Chief John Nwosu, Vice Chairman of Elders Forum of the association, lamented that the disruption had done a lot of damages already. “The people affected get their daily bread from this market. Some of them can not bear this for one hour let alone one day because it means they would not get their daily bread. It is by the grace of God that we have been able to calm such people down thus far.”
Our correspondent gathered that the traders’ losses arising from the closure of the market ran into millions of naira. It was further gathered that soon after the development occurred, news about it went viral. This affected the larger market’s customers who were coming from far and near.
“This morning, people have been calling me from far and near to find out if indeed the market was shut down,” Chief Nwosu stated.
Before the incident our correspondent gathered that the market was relatively calm. It was learnt that the Iyaloja had earlier invited the traders following some perceived internal crisis in the market. A letter to that effect dated July 28, 2015, requested them to show up at noon at 10, Sunday Adigun Street Ikeja. It reads: “A crucial meeting to discuss the progress and way forward in the market with the president general of the association of commodity market women and men of Nigeria.”
Counsel to the caretaker committee of the market, Barrister Chinedu Nwosu, whiling hinting on what might have led to the face-off, said: “While the traders welcome the mediation, the invitation was impromptu and there was no way the executive could all be gathered. So I sent a lawyer from the chamber who went there and requested that the traders be given another date so that they would be well prepared.”
He said the lawyer was denied audience because the Iyaloja General said she would prefer to dialogue with the traders and not their lawyer.
At the moment, traders at the Fancy and Furniture Dealers Association Section of the Alaba International Market, Lagos are going through a rough patch. They woke up on Friday, September 18, to see that their market had been shut allegedly on the orders of the President General of Association of Commodity Market Women and Men of Nigeria, Chief Mrs. Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, who is otherwise called the Iyaloja General of Nigeria. Several outlets in the market were allegedly broken into and goods worth millions of naira looted by the hoodlums.
On Monday, September 21, there was palpable tension in the market. Angry traders were visibly restlessness and were held in check by their leaders. They were particularly irked by what they termed an act of impunity against them.
Recalling how it all started, the Chairman of the Fancy and Furniture Section, Ndubuisi, Chukwuezi said: “At about 1 am on Friday, September 18, I was called by the Chief Security Officer of the market that some area boys were around to seal up the market. I drove down immediately and got there shortly after 2 am and saw our security men all disarmed. No fewer than 50 area boys were seen milling around the market. They came in three buses and sealed up the market with padlocks and chains. Some of them broke into the shops that were in the front section.
“After accomplishing their mission, they pasted a notice titled: ‘Re: Closure of Fancy and Furniture Section of Alaba International Market.’ I invited you to a meeting but you refused to show up. In view of the above, FANCY AND FURNITURE SECTION of Alaba International Market thereby (sic) close.’
“When I got to the market area, I parked my vehicle at a reasonable distance and from there I watched the proceedings. Shortly after, they all boarded their buses and left. They took away everything our security men had. It was after they had left that I drew near to have a bigger picture of what happened.
“It was then that I noticed a letter signed by Chief (Mrs.) Folashade Tinubu-Ojo pasted on the wall, directed us to call 08038348871 for further information.”
As at Monday, the traders were visible angry and it showed. Despite the simmering anger, they were however law abiding. Explaining how they were able to hold their patience, Chukwuezi said: “I called the Commissioner of Police, the Area Commander and the Divisional Police Office in charge of Ojo and told them what happened. We were directed to reopen the market but to shun any thing that might lead to violence.
“Then yesterday the area boys came again threatening to seal the market. It was the police that ordered us to reopen the market. It was then that we decided the matter had gone too far and we might break our silence.”
Chief John Nwosu, Vice Chairman of Elders Forum of the association, lamented that the disruption had done a lot of damages already. “The people affected get their daily bread from this market. Some of them can not bear this for one hour let alone one day because it means they would not get their daily bread. It is by the grace of God that we have been able to calm such people down thus far.”
Our correspondent gathered that the traders’ losses arising from the closure of the market ran into millions of naira. It was further gathered that soon after the development occurred, news about it went viral. This affected the larger market’s customers who were coming from far and near.
“This morning, people have been calling me from far and near to find out if indeed the market was shut down,” Chief Nwosu stated.
Before the incident our correspondent gathered that the market was relatively calm. It was learnt that the Iyaloja had earlier invited the traders following some perceived internal crisis in the market. A letter to that effect dated July 28, 2015, requested them to show up at noon at 10, Sunday Adigun Street Ikeja. It reads: “A crucial meeting to discuss the progress and way forward in the market with the president general of the association of commodity market women and men of Nigeria.”
Counsel to the caretaker committee of the market, Barrister Chinedu Nwosu, whiling hinting on what might have led to the face-off, said: “While the traders welcome the mediation, the invitation was impromptu and there was no way the executive could all be gathered. So I sent a lawyer from the chamber who went there and requested that the traders be given another date so that they would be well prepared.”
He said the lawyer was denied audience because the Iyaloja General said she would prefer to dialogue with the traders and not their lawyer.
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