Ladipo Auto Traders Attack Market Leader, Beat Him To Coma

Foremost auto dealer and former president of Ladipo Auto Market in Matori area of Lagos state, Jonathan Chibuzor Okoli, was yesterday beaten to a state of coma at the market premises when he returned to resume normal business activities at the Aguiyi Ironsi Complex in the market.

Okoli, the former president of Aguiyi Ironsi Complex in the market was to resume business activities Wednesday morning after staying away for four years due to incessant crises that rocked the market, coupled with an auto accident which he had in Ijebu-Ode-Shagamu road in 2012.

According to eye witness account, Okoli arrived the market yesterday morning to his complex to start his business but was stopped at the gate by some traders suspected to be loyalists to the new market leadership. In the struggle to make way inside, Okoli was badly wounded in his jaw with serious bruises all over his body.

The source told Daily Times that Okoli would have been badly handled if not for the intervention of some security officers who stopped the mayhem. The market was temporary locked up as at 11: am Wednesday morning but was later opened at about 2pm. It was also gathered that the police are investigating the matter to know what transpired between the market leader and others. Okoli who was in a state of coma in a pool of his blood was also said to have been rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Lagos.

On visiting the auto market, traders were seen talking in hush tones just as they condemned the action of the attackers, saying that the market belongs to all the traders in the market.

A spare parts dealer, John Uzor described the situation as very unfortunate. He also viewed Ladipo as a place whereby some people take advantage of the crises to take laws into their hands and cause pain unnecessarily to others. He therefore condemned the ugly treatment meted on their former leader.

Similarly, an auto engine dealer, Peter Umeh told Daily Times that Okoli does not deserve the treatment he is getting because he has been helpful to all the traders in the market.According to Umeh, Okoli , Okoli is suffering because he is the type of person that stands for the truth.

“What is happening is very unfortunate. They are doing this thing to him because he stood for the truth. We all know him and he stands for the right of the traders’ day and night. And that is why he was being set up in this manner”, Umeh said.

Speaking to Daily Times before he returned to the market, Okoli had promised to make peace with all and sundry “I am going back to the market but I am not going to challenge them. I am going back to do my business and not to contest or fight anybody. I am going to my shop. In the market, I am one of the major stakeholders and I am out to make peace; I have a plaza with many shops at the Ladip”, Okoli said.

Appreciating the effort of the new Local Government Chairman, the market leader said that the new chair seems to be a man of peace who has all it takes to settle the crises in the market; and that was another reason why he decided to go back to his business.

Stressing that he was a victim of conspiracy and instigation by the former Mushin Local Government Chairman, Okoli said “I feel that the state government was misled by the former Local Government Chairman. They were misled by saying I was the cause of the crises. Why I stayed away for the 4 years is for Lagos State people to know that I am not the cause of the problem. They now know it because even after I left, the problem is still there. I inherited the problem. They only wanted to take the leadership by force. That was why I looked at it and said, let me move away from the market”.

Mr. Okoli’s problems started sometime in in 2007 after he was elected as the President and leader of the market. As a leader, he faced many attacks, especially from the Mushin Local Government council which he accused that were bent on taking away the leadership from the traders’ choice.