Tension is high at Ladipo Market in Mushin Local Government Area of Lagos State, with the traders about to take to the streets in protest.

Reason: They turned up for business this morning only to find the market securely locked and armed mobile policemen keeping watch to ensure that nobody gained entry. Two Toyota Hilux vans belonging to OP MESA were packed in front of the main gate, while a tipper soon arrived to discharge gravel.

On enquiry, the market leaders were told that the Mushin Local Government Council wants to rebuild the famous spare parts market. The mainly Igbo traders are, however, crying foul and alleging political victimisation by the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for voting for the defeated Peoples Democratic party (PDP) in the last general elections. Market leader Kingsley Ogonor is said to be on his way to the Mushin Local Government Secretariat to lodge a protest.

“This is nothing but political vendetta,” an Igbo leader who spoke to News Express from Ladipo Market said. “There was no prior information, the traders were not even allowed to carry their goods from their shops and no foundation has been dug anywhere in the market, so the claim of shutting down the market so as to rebuild it is not tenable,” the source added.