The Lagos State Police Command has swiftly responded to the recent unrest in the Owode Onirin area of Lagos State and restored normalcy, peace, law and order to the affected area.
This is consequent upon the disturbance of public peace, law and order, blocking of highways and roads leading in and out of Owode Onirin Market as a result of the deadly clash between traders and land grabbers.
In a statement signed by The Police Public Relations Officer for The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command-Ikeja on the 27th day of August, 2025, CP Olohundare Jimoh personally led a combined team of Police detachment comprising personnel of the Command’s operations department, the Police Mobile Force, Rapid Response Squad, Tactical squads and Detectives from the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to the affected areas and normalcy was later restored, which led to the reopening of roads to traffic and for people to go about their lawful businesses.
To sustain the normalcy, the Commissioner of Police retained the deployment of adequate police personnel at the scene of the incident to prevent resurgence of the crisis.
During the clash between the traders and the land grabbers, three persons sustained fatal injuries and a Police Inspector was seriously injured. The three fatally injured persons were confirmed dead when they were rushed to the hospital by the Police, while the Police Inspector injured is in a critical and life-threatening condition at the hospital where he is receiving treatment.
In the cause of preliminary investigation and prima facie evidences available, one Abiodun Ariori, CEO of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited, who is allegedly connected to the deadly clash between the traders and the land grabbers has been declared wanted by The Lagos State Police Command. This more so, as all efforts to effect his arrest and bring him to justice has so far proved abortive.
According to The State Command, The wanted suspect, Abiodun Ariori, whose photograph is attached, with last known address in Egbeda, is dark in complexion and If seen, should be arrested and handed over to the nearest police station.
The public is advised to call the Lagos State Police Command control room on 08063299264, 09053872208, 08127155150 or send email to: lagosstatepolicecommandikeja@gmail.com.
The Command has also advised that should turn himself in at the nearest police station or face the consequences of his going into hiding.
In furtherance to ensuring justice and in compliance with the directive of the Commissioner of Police, four policemen, brought in from outside Lagos State by the wanted suspected land grabber, were immediately identified and detained at the Command headquarters for orderly room trial for going on illegal duty with the wanted suspect.
The Lagos State Command has given members of the public the assurance that, the outcome of the investigation into the case and the trial of the policemen will be made public in due course.
In a related development, The Lagos State Police Command equally wish to inform the general public that there was no tribal clash or disturbance between any ethnic groups in Balogun Market today.
Rather, the command confirmed that there was an incident of a free-for-all fight between some hoodlums and miscreants in the Balogun Market in the early hours of today at around 11am. During the fight, one Ebuka Adindu from Abia State was said to have stabbed one Sodiq Ibrahim from Kogi State to death and the said Ebuka Adindu in turn stabbed himself on the shoulder and became unconscious.
The Command says that he is currently under arrest in the hospital where he is being treated, with the promise that if Investigation into the matter is concluded, he will be prosecuted after he has been discharged from the hospital.
The command confirmed that there was no loss of innocent lives or injury to any person or damage to goods and properties of marketers inside Balogun Market.
The Lagos State Police Command wish to reiterate that the incident is not a tribal clash but purely between miscreants and hoodlums around the Balogun Market. Normalcy has been restored and the market men and women as well as the residents of Lagos Island and other parts of Lagos State are encouraged to go about their businesses and their other lawful endeavours without fear or apprehension.
To this effect, The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Olohundare Jimoh has called on all residents to remain law-abiding and cooperate with the police Command to sustain existing peace in the state and not to spread fear in the mind of the public as Lagos is generally noted for its peaceful coexistence.
