Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Mowe-Ofada Market in Obafemi Owode Local Government Area of Ogun State has become a scene of grief and anger after officials of the state government carried out a midnight demolition that left hundreds of traders counting losses estimated at over N500 million, with many accusing the authorities of executing the exercise without prior notice or any regard for their livelihoods.
The demolition, which took place in the early hours of Friday, July 3, 2026, at about 2 a.m., caught traders completely off guard, according to multiple accounts from affected shop owners. By the time they arrived at the market to commence their daily business activities, their stalls and goods had been reduced to rubble, with armed policemen stationed around the premises to prevent any resistance. The traders alleged that the demolition was carried out while they were away, deliberately timed to avoid confrontation and to ensure that they could not salvage their goods.
One of the affected traders, Mrs. Kabira Ajiboye, who spoke to journalists during an inspection of the demolished market, expressed shock and devastation over the turn of events. She said there was no official communication or demolition notice served on the traders before the structures were pulled down. According to her, officials from the Ogun State Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning had previously visited the market in 2023 during the local government election period with plans to demolish the structures, but the exercise was suspended after traders explained that they had paid their rents and other levies to the local government authority. "There was no demolition notice whatsoever," Ajiboye said. "In 2023, officials from the ministry came here during the local government election period, but when we explained that we paid our rents to the local government, they left without carrying out any demolition. This time around, they did not issue any notice. We arrived at our stalls this morning only to discover that everything had been demolished. Goods worth over N500 million have been destroyed."
Ajiboye faulted the manner in which the demolition was carried out, saying the authorities failed to consider the welfare of hundreds of traders who depend on the market for their livelihoods. "At the very least, they should have shown compassion while carrying out the exercise. They should have allowed us to remove our goods before demolishing our shops. This is a bad omen for a government seeking the support of the people. How can you whip people and still expect them to smile? We got here this morning and saw armed policemen stationed everywhere," she lamented.
The trader appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to intervene by providing an alternative site where the displaced traders could continue their businesses. She further disclosed that many of the traders had obtained loans to establish their small-scale businesses, lamenting that the demolition had left them devastated and uncertain about their means of livelihood. "Many of us survive solely from these businesses. We took loans to set up our shops. Now everything is gone. We don't know what to do," she said.
The demolition has sparked outrage among the trading community, with many residents and observers questioning the government's approach to urban planning and its treatment of small business owners. The timing of the exercise, in the dead of night without any prior warning, has been widely condemned as insensitive and heavy-handed. Critics have also pointed to the presence of armed policemen at the scene as evidence that the government anticipated resistance and was prepared to use force to suppress any opposition.
Efforts to obtain a reaction from the Ogun State Commissioner for Urban and Physical Planning, Tunji Odunlami, were unsuccessful, as calls to his telephone line went unanswered, while text and WhatsApp messages sent to him had yet to receive a response as of the time of filing this report. The Ogun State Government had also not issued any official statement on the demolition, leaving traders and the public in the dark about the reasons behind the exercise and whether any compensation or alternative arrangements would be made for the affected traders.
The demolition of the Mowe-Ofada Market has raised troubling questions about the protection of small businesses and the rights of traders in Ogun State. For the hundreds of traders who have lost their means of livelihood, the midnight exercise has been a devastating blow from which many may never recover. As one trader put it, "This is not the kind of treatment people expect from a government seeking public support. How do you treat people this way and expect them to be happy?"
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments