Ibadan Traders Protest Planned Demolition Of 1,000 Shops

Traders at Bodija International Market in Ibadan, Oyo State have staged a peaceful protest against the proposed demolition of more than 1,000 shops by the Aare-Latosa Local Council Development Area (LCDA) of Ibadan North Local Government.

The affected traders, mostly owners and occupants of shops located behind the Bodija International Market Police Station, said they were not given prior notice or consulted before receiving a demolition notice.

They appealed to Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, to urgently intervene and halt the proposed exercise.

The traders, who carried placards with various inscriptions, described the planned demolition as a threat to their livelihoods and the survival of their families, saying the shops were their major sources of income.

Speaking with journalists during the protest, one of the traders’ leaders, Alhaji Wasiu Agbaje, said they were shocked to receive a demolition letter dated August 14, 2026.

According to him, the letter issued by the Aare-Latosa LCDA directed the traders to vacate their shops within 21 days without prior consultation or sensitisation.

“We were surprised to receive a demolition letter dated 14th August, 2026, by Aare-Latosa Local Council Development Area, ordering us to vacate our shops within 21 days,” Agbaje said.

The Secretary of the Arewa Traders Association, Bodija, Bappa Hurso, said demolishing more than 1,000 shops without making alternative arrangements would throw many families into hardship.

Hurso said many of the traders had operated in the section of the market for years and invested substantially in their businesses.

He appealed to Makinde to intervene, saying the governor’s intervention had brought relief in similar cases across the state.

He said the protest was peaceful because the traders believed in dialogue and due process, urging the state government to investigate the circumstances surrounding the demolition notice.

Hurso expressed hope that the governor would halt the proposed demolition and direct the relevant authorities to engage the traders in discussions before taking any action.

“We want want the Oyo State government, security agencies and traditional rulers to take action on the matter to forestall a breakdown of law and order.

“The local government council wanted to demolish this place. We Arewa citizens are law-abiding. We were not informed before the notice was served around 11:30pm.

“Hausa, Yoruba, Igbo and other traders have been engaging with one another without harassment since the establishment of the market in 1987,” he said.

He said the traders’ objective was to contribute to the stability of the state and national economy, adding that they were surprised when unidentified persons arrived at the market around 11:30pm and pasted notices giving them 21 days to vacate.

Another trader, Mrs Sadia Bakare, appealed to the government to reconsider the planned demolition, saying it would leave many traders jobless and worsen hardship among their families.

“Government should have mercy on us. The demolition will lead to joblessness, hardship and pain. This is our source of livelihood; we have nowhere to go.

“They claimed they wanted to rebuild the market for our sake, but it is a lie. They will chase us away, rebuild the shops and rent them out for millions of naira at the expense of those of us who cannot afford it.

“Where should someone whose goods are not worth N500,000 get between N5 million and N10 million to acquire a rebuilt shop?” she asked.