The Lagos State Government has shut down the Oshodi Resettlement Market following a violent confrontation between traders and officials of the Lagos State Environmental Sanitation Corps (KAI) during an enforcement operation in the area.
The operation, carried out as part of efforts to restore order and curb the activities of suspected hoodlums and beggars within the market environment, reportedly escalated into violence.
According to reports, some traders resisted the arrest of individuals targeted during the exercise and subsequently confronted members of the enforcement team, leading to a breakdown of order.
Authorities said the shutdown was necessary to prevent further escalation and to restore sanity to the area following the disturbance.
The situation escalated as the traders reportedly attacked the officials, disrupting the exercise and forcing the officers to withdraw from the scene.
Operational vehicles belonging to the sanitation corps were also vandalised during the confrontation.
Reacting to the development, the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, announced the immediate closure of the market.
Wahab, in a video shared on social media on Tuesday, said the decision was taken to restore normalcy, protect public assets and prevent a further breakdown of law and order in the area.
He condemned the attack on government officials and the destruction of public property, stressing that such actions would not be tolerated by the state government.
The commissioner reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining cleanliness, safety and orderliness across the state through lawful enforcement operations.
He added that appropriate measures would be taken to ensure compliance with environmental regulations and safeguard public infrastructure.
The state government maintained that enforcement activities are carried out in the interest of public safety and environmental sanitation, warning that anyone found obstructing government officials in the discharge of their duties would face the full weight of the law.