Fatai Owoseni, Lagos CP

Cyriacus Izuekwe

There is tensions in the Furniture section of Alaba International market in Ojo local government after the police reportedly recovered a catche of arms and live ammunition in the market in Lagos State western Nigeria.

TheNEWS gathered that detectives from area E Festac Command stormed and recovered high caliber guns such as pump actions, double barrels, short guns and live ammunition in the market.

Thus, the leader of the market, Mr Emeka Mozoba and some of the security men in the market were arrested and detained at Festac police command.

The discovery and arrest caused panic in the market as some of the executives went into hiding to avoid arrest.

TheNEWS also gathered that the whole thing was happening at the same time the market union and some traders are at logger heads over demand of N300,000 per shop for the occupants by the union.

When our reporter went to the market, to meet with the chairman, some of the traders confirmed the arrest and directed our reporter to Area E command, Festac where they were detained.

At the command, Mozoba was seen at the command premises and was not detained in the cell with other suspects.

Mozoba confirmed to our reporter that he was summoned by the area commander over market issue and denied it has to do with arms. He also said he heard the rumour that arms were recovered at the market but as the chairman, such information was false and targeted to blackmail the leadership and the union.

He also admitted that the union had issue with some traders who he alleged was behind the false information. However, our reporter gathered from the traders that the police actually recovered guns used by security men guiding the market.

It was learnt that the guns are of high calibre type which the police would not issue license for. Such weapons were used in the market to intimidate traders for extortion and imposition of illegal levies.

Efforts to see the area commander concerning the matter proved abortive as our reporter was told he went to Ikeja police headquarter over the matter.

The PPRO, SP Dolapo Badmos could not be reached because he phone could not be reached. She did not reply text message sent to her.