Fresh outrage and deep sorrow trailed the burial of six traders killed during a violent incident at the Owode Onirin International Motor Spare Parts Market in Ketu, Lagos, with bereaved families renewing calls for justice months after the tragedy.
The victims, who were shot dead during a controversial enforcement operation on August 27, 2025 an incident traders now refer to as “Black Wednesday” were laid to rest in Ikorodu amid emotional scenes and lingering questions over accountability.
Mourners, including relatives and colleagues, had earlier converged on Ikorodu General Hospital to receive the remains in a grief-laden atmosphere before proceeding to Igbogbo for final interment.
Accounts from witnesses indicate that the crisis erupted following a disputed demolition exercise in the market within the Agboyi-Ketu Local Council Development Area. What reportedly began as resistance by traders degenerated into chaos, ending in gunfire that left six persons dead.
The deceased were identified as Seyi Akinboye, Adeoye Taiwo, Dare Mufutau, Aderemi Hakeem, Abraham Temoola, and Wale Adebayo.
During the burial, relatives described the victims as hardworking breadwinners whose sudden deaths have left their families devastated and struggling to cope.
“Our loved ones were not criminals. They were simply trying to survive. Justice must be served,” one mourner lamented.
While four police officers Manu Bala, Jibrin Samaila, Ibrahim Garuba, and Ibrahim Kashim have been charged to court over the killings, families of the deceased decried what they termed inadequate progress in the prosecution.
They further alleged that the individual believed to have authorised the operation remains untouched, urging the authorities to widen the scope of investigation to ensure justice is not selective.
Civil society organisations have also faulted the handling of the incident, calling for an independent inquiry and compensation for those affected.
Chairman of the market, Abiodun Ahmed, reiterated that traders would continue to demand accountability, insisting the matter would not fade away until all those involved are brought to book.
The solemn ceremony ended on a painful note, with widows, children and fellow traders left to grapple with the enduring impact of a tragedy that has continued to haunt the community.
