The Commissioner of Police in Lagos State, Moshood Jimoh, has assured the public that four police officers and other suspects implicated in the killing of traders in the Owode-Onirin area of the state will be prosecuted.
Speaking with journalists at the Police Officers’ Mess in Ikeja on Thursday, the police chief stated that the officers, allegedly brought from Nasarawa State by a key suspect identified as Ariori, were directly linked to the violence that resulted in multiple deaths.
Jimoh stressed that the case remains under active investigation and has not been abandoned.
“This matter has not been swept under the carpet. We want the public and the families of the victims to know that nothing will stop us from ensuring justice is served,” he said.
According to him, the police will pursue the case without fear or intimidation, noting that every suspect connected to the incident will face prosecution.
“We will leave no stone unturned. All suspects will be prosecuted, and the courts remain open to handle the matter,” he added.
The commissioner disclosed that ballistic and autopsy reports have played a key role in the investigation, which he said is nearing completion.
Reaffirming the commitment of the police to maintaining law and order, Jimoh warned that no individual or group would be allowed to obstruct the course of justice. He also urged residents and traders to remain vigilant while assuring them of continued police protection of lives and property.
Background
The incident occurred in August 2025 following a violent clash between traders and suspected land grabbers in Owode-Onirin, located in Kosofe Local Government Area.
Witnesses alleged that a businessman arrived at the location with armed men and instructed hoodlums to forcefully evict traders and mechanics from their shops.
The confrontation reportedly escalated into a gun battle after traders resisted the eviction, resulting in the death of at least three traders while several others, including a police officer, sustained injuries.
The violence triggered protests as angry traders blocked a major road in the area, causing hours of traffic disruption.
Police investigations later linked the incident to Abiodun Ariori, the Chief Executive Officer of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited. He has since been declared wanted after allegedly evading arrest.
The four police officers said to have been brought in by Ariori were detained for carrying out illegal duty and have been placed under orderly room trial.
In another related development, violence also broke out at Balogun Market following a dispute between two middlemen over money. The altercation turned fatal after both men attacked each other with knives, leading to the death of Sodiq Ibrahim from Kogi State.
Police authorities clarified that the incident was not ethnically motivated and confirmed that normal activities have since resumed at the market.
A former spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, Benjamin Hundeyin, had earlier assured residents that adequate security measures were in place and encouraged the public to go about their lawful businesses without fear.
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