OWODE-ONIRIN MASSACRE: The Centre for Human & Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has called for urgent justice following the massacre of traders at Union Motor Spare Parts Market, Owode-Onirin, Lagos State. The group is demanding the immediate arrest, prosecution, and compensation of all those responsible for the killings, which it described as a tragic reminder of the dangers of state-backed land grabbing in Nigeria.
On Wednesday, August 27, 2025, the usually bustling spare parts market turned into a battlefield when armed thugs, allegedly working for a land grabber, stormed the premises with the support of four policemen. The violence left six traders dead on the spot, while dozens sustained severe injuries. A seventh victim, who had been battling for survival in hospital, later succumbed to his injuries, raising the death toll to seven.
“These were innocent Nigerians striving to earn a living for themselves and their families,” said Comrade Alex Omotehinse, President of CHSR. “They were not criminals. They were legitimate traders who left home in the morning but never returned. Their blood is crying out for justice.”
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Owode-Onirin Massacre: Call for Accountability
The violence came in the wake of a controversial demolition exercise at the market. Over 1,000 shops were reportedly destroyed in a move traders insist was illegal, given that the matter was already before the Lagos State High Court. Despite petitions to the Lagos State Governor and the State House of Assembly, the demolitions went ahead, fueling suspicions of collusion between land grabbers and state actors.
Eyewitnesses claim the attack was coordinated, with the hired thugs operating freely under the cover of armed policemen. The prime suspect, identified as Mr. Abiodun Akimori, has been accused of masterminding both the demolition and the deadly assault. CHSR says the attack was not only an affront to justice but also evidence of deepening impunity in Lagos.
CHSR insists that the alleged mastermind, Abiodun Akimori, must be arrested and prosecuted without delay. It also called for the public disclosure of the names of the four policemen said to have been involved in the attack, stressing that they must be tried in Lagos where the killings took place. The group is also demanding an independent investigation into the roles played by state officials and the transparent release of land title documents and records of stakeholder meetings connected to the market.
The human rights body further urged the Federal Government to take over the case if the Lagos State Government is unable to act impartially. It demanded that families of the slain traders and survivors of the assault be compensated adequately and provided with full medical support. In addition, it asked for permanent security deployment to the market to protect traders from further intimidation and violence.
According to Omotehinse, the Nigerian state must demonstrate that it values the lives of ordinary citizens above the selfish interests of land speculators and their backers. He warned that if the state cannot guarantee safety in marketplaces, then it has failed in its most basic duty.
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The Owode-Onirin tragedy has once again drawn attention to the menace of land grabbing in Lagos, where markets and residential communities are frequently targeted by powerful individuals working in collusion with security agencies. Human rights groups have long warned that unchecked land grabbing fuels violence, displaces thousands, and deepens poverty among Lagos residents.
“The world is watching Lagos,” Omotehinse declared. “Justice delayed is justice denied. The families of the slain traders, the injured survivors, and the thousands of Nigerians whose livelihoods have been destroyed deserve nothing less than full justice.”
