Africa-Press – Nigeria. Three policemen accused of killing seven traders at the Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market in Lagos have been released.
The suspected land grabber linked to the violent incident has also been granted bail, sparking outrage among families of the victims and human rights advocates.
Relatives of the deceased lamented that authorities were demanding exorbitant fees for postmortem examinations before releasing the bodies of their loved ones, compounding their grief.
The incident occurred on August 30, 2025.
A suspected land grabber had allegedly led operatives of the Nasarawa State Police Command to launch a deadly assault on traders at the market.
Sources disclosed that after the killings, the three officers were moved to Abuja instead of facing disciplinary action in Lagos, where the crime took place.
“The policemen were from the Nasarawa command. They were brought to Lagos by the suspected land grabber. After the shootings, they were taken to Abuja for an orderly room trial, but the Provost freed them on claims of self-defence,” a source said.
It was also alleged that the decision to exonerate the officers was influenced by the relationship between the Provost and the Nasarawa State Commissioner of Police, though this claim could not be independently confirmed.
The suspected mastermind, identified as Abiodun Ariori, was also released after filing a bail application at the High Court while in detention at the State Criminal Investigation Department. The police reportedly failed to oppose the application, allowing him to regain his freedom.
Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, condemned the development, vowing to take legal action if the police failed to prosecute those responsible.
“If the police are not willing to prosecute, we will. The offence was committed in Lagos, so there was no justification for transferring the case to Abuja. If they are claiming self-defence, they should make that claim in court,” Falana said.
Meanwhile, the victims’ families have accused the authorities of neglect, injustice, and extortion.
Moruf Olayemi, uncle to one of the deceased, Akinboye Oluwaseyi, described the demand for payment before postmortems as exploitative.
“We were told there are about 600 bodies in the morgue, and if our association pays, the process will be done quickly. But that means families will bear the cost. Meanwhile, the land grabber has been freed. It shows there is no justice in Nigeria. When you have money, you can act with impunity. The poor are always the victims. Oluwaseyi left behind three children, aged seven, five, and two,” he lamented.
Owolabi Ganiu, the employer of another victim, Wale Adebayo, accused the authorities of monetising the postmortem process and criticised both state and local governments for their silence.
“Not even a condolence visit has come. This is about human lives. We call on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to intervene. Adebayo left behind a three-year-old child, and his mother-in-law suffered a stroke after his death,” he said.
Abiodun Temilola, who lost his son Abraham, decried the situation as unfair.
“They should release his body to us if they are not ready to conduct the postmortem. Abraham had no issues with the police. We cannot afford the amount they are demanding,” he stated.
Biliaminu Adeoye, father of another victim, Akeem Adeoye, described the demands as cruel.
“Asking us for huge sums in this condition is wickedness,” he said.
The Chairman of the Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market, Abiodun Ahmed, urged the families to remain patient, assuring them that the government would eventually handle the postmortems.
“We were informed that some funds might help speed up the process, but it’s not as though the police are demanding money directly from us,” he explained.
Ahmed also confirmed that the alleged land grabber had been granted bail on medical grounds after filing suits against the police, the Lagos State Commissioner of Police, and the market association.
He noted that security operatives had since been deployed to the market to protect traders and prevent further unrest.
When contacted, the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, said she was hearing about the case for the first time and promised to get back to the correspondent.
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