Dozens of traders were rendered homeless and goods worth millions of naira destroyed on Thursday following the demolition of the popular Costain Market in Lagos by the state government.
The exercise was carried out by a joint enforcement team comprising officials of the Lagos State Task Force, the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA, and the Kick Against Indiscipline, KAI, under the supervision of the Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Transport, Mr Sola Giwa.
Eyewitnesses told reporters that the operation began in the early afternoon, with bulldozers and armed operatives storming the market.
Traders and passersby were reportedly dispersed with teargas before rows of shops, makeshift stalls, and a nearby mosque were demolished.
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The sudden action threw the area into chaos, as traders scrambled to rescue their wares from the debris.
Some traders alleged that the demolition came without prior notice.
One of the affected business owners, Mr Alfred Wisdom, who produces snacks, said he lost over N5 million in cash and goods.
“It happened around 1 p.m. I was heading to Victoria Island for delivery when I saw Task Force vehicles approaching. By the time I got back, they had broken into my shop and carted away my sales. They said our businesses were illegal. It’s heartbreaking,” he lamented.
Wisdom also recalled that the demolition came just months after the destruction of the Otumara community, which displaced more than 500,000 residents.
“It feels like we’re being targeted. We got no warning, no chance to remove our property,” he added tearfully.
As of press time, the Lagos State Government had not released an official statement explaining the reason for the demolition or clarifying whether displaced traders would receive compensation.
