•Armed soldiers
Tenants of the Onikan Mammy Market on Lagos Island have expressed frustration after armed military personnel barricaded the entrance to the market, despite a valid court injunction.
During a protest at the market entrance, the chairman of the Onikan Mammy Market, Akerele Babajide, emphasised that the Air Force Command Base should wait for the court’s judgment before taking any action, reports Vanguard.
Babajide recounted his surprise on arriving at the market around 6 a.m. to find over 25 military personnel stationed at the entrance. “I asked what the problem was, as we had a court injunction from November 26. But when I arrived this morning, I saw a notice pasted at the gate—this is the same paper we use to communicate with the Air Force,” he explained.
Babajide said he personally called the commander of the Air Force base to inquire about the situation. The commander responded that the action was an order from higher authorities, but Babajide insisted that the case was still pending in court, with legal representation on both sides.
“The next thing I saw was a squadron leader leading more than 25 armed soldiers to the entrance. I couldn’t approach him immediately due to the early hour, so I waited until daybreak. When I finally spoke to him, he said we had one hour to pack our belongings, which was impossible. Many shops are still filled with items.”
He further stated that the market tenants had invested in building the structures and paid over N10 million annually, without ever defaulting on payments.
“All we are asking for is compensation for the property we built. There are about 140 shops here. We are not in a military era; why should we be treated as third-class citizens in our own country?”
