REVEALED: How Military Men Killed Three Traders In Ladipo Spare Parts Market Over N200

Three traders were killed by trigger-happy military troops at the popular Ladipo Spare Parts Market in Lagos State over the payment of a N200 gate ticket into the region.

A businessman known only as Felix, aka Tiger, and two other unidentified traders were shot and killed at the Aguiyi Ironsi International Trade Centre in the Paramo section of Ladipo Market in Lagos State.

On Tuesday, a military commander and his orderly went to the market to replace a replacement part that he had purchased from a merchant.

On their way out, several union members stationed at the market’s entrance allegedly demanded N200 in exchange for their gate ticket.

The military personnel were enraged by the request, and an argument erupted between them and the union members as a result.

According to a market source, the military man and his orderly were allegedly beaten by the union members, who then mobilized three additional troops who allegedly shot the victims to death.

The trader said, “What happened was that a military man came with his orderly in the morning to change a spare part that he bought from a trader in the market since last week. He came to change it because it did not work, but the military man did not wear his uniform when he came into the market.

“When he was leaving, the union boys at the entrance of the gate told him to pay N200 for gate pass. But because he refused to pay, it turned into a fight and the boys beat the military man and his orderly. So, he went back to his base, returned with three other boys and everywhere scattered as they started shooting.

“About three people have been killed; in fact, a trader, Felix, aka Tiger, whose shop is located on my line, was part of the people that were killed by stray bullets. Felix was carrying his goods into his shop during the fracas when a stray bullet hit him.

“We quickly rushed him to the hospital, but he died on the way. The incident happened around 1pm, but the military man came to the market around 9am.”

However, the Director, Public Relations and Information, Nigerian Airforce, Edward Gabkwat, who gave another version of the story, said a soldier and his civilian friend were in the market for debt collection from a trader when a fight broke out between the soldier and the debtor.

He said, “It was a matter of self-defence; it was purely a domestic matter that went south. A soldier and a civilian friend went to the market for debt collection, whether the debt was for the soldier or civilian, we don’t know. But in the process, a fight ensued between the soldier and the alleged debtor, and the debtor and other civilians pounced on the soldier.

“It was an unfortunate situation. It wasn’t as if it was the air force men that opened fire, but the rifle, which belongs to the air force personnel, has been retrieved. I understand one or two people died, but it is unconfirmed. Our base commander has been told to get to the root of the matter.”