A 68-year-old woman, Alhaja Iyabo, has died following the demolition of shanties at Alaba Rago market by the Lagos State Government. The demolition, which targeted illegal structures, resulted in Iyabo losing over N50 million kept in her shop. The state’s task force had issued a removal notice on May 15, but market leaders claimed the losses from the demolition could reach N50 billion.
Iyabo, a rice and beans dealer, reportedly developed a heart problem upon discovering her weekend earnings had vanished. Traders, including Iyabo, had stored their sales proceeds intending to deposit them on Monday. Ibrahim Hamad Namari, head of the cow dealers, and other market leaders asserted they were not given proper notice of the demolition, which occurred on Sunday morning.
Chief Superintendent of Police Shola Jejeloye, leading the taskforce, stated a removal notice was issued on May 19, 2022. However, Namari and other traders argued that the notice did not specify the demolition date, leading to their financial losses and Iyabo’s tragic death from the shock.