Owode Onirin Market Killings: Six Victims Laid to Rest 

Six traders who lost their lives during a violent incident at the Owode Onirin International Motor Spare Parts Market have been buried in Ikorodu, Lagos State, amid renewed calls for justice.

The victims were killed on August 27 last year during a controversial operation at the market, an incident that has since been widely referred to as “Black Wednesday.”

Family members and sympathisers gathered at the Ikorodu General Hospital to receive the remains of the deceased, as the atmosphere was filled with grief and anguish.

Eyewitness accounts indicated that the incident stemmed from tensions over a disputed demolition of shops within the market in the Agboyi-Ketu area. What began as resistance by traders reportedly escalated into a confrontation that led to gunfire, claiming six lives.

The deceased were identified as Seyi Akinboye, Adeoye Taiwo, Dare Mufutau, Aderemi Hakeem, Abraham Temoola, and Wale Adebayo.

At the burial, relatives described the victims as hardworking men who were the primary providers for their families, stressing that their deaths have left lasting hardship behind.

Many mourners called for justice, insisting that those responsible must be held accountable.

“These were innocent men trying to earn a living. Their killers must be held accountable,” a grieving relative said.

Authorities have since arraigned four police officers—Manu Bala, Jibrin Samaila, Ibrahim Garuba, and Ibrahim Kashimu—on charges of conspiracy and murder in connection with the incident. The officers are currently in custody as legal proceedings continue.

However, the families of the victims expressed dissatisfaction with the progress of the case, alleging that the individual believed to have orchestrated the operation has not yet been prosecuted.

Human rights groups have also condemned the killings, calling for an independent investigation and adequate compensation for the affected families.

The victims were laid to rest in Igbogbo, Ikorodu, in an emotional ceremony that left widows, children, and a grieving community still struggling to cope with the tragedy.

The Chairman of the market, Abiodun Ahmed, reiterated the traders’ commitment to pursuing justice, vowing that the matter will not be forgotten until all those responsible are held accountable.