Members of the Balogun Business Association, BBA, Trade Fair Complex, Lagos are yet to recover from the shock of the killing of Mr. Chinedu Nwakeze, a.k.a. Awkuze, personal assistant to Prince Tony Akanegbu, president of the association, by armed policemen on 31 January.

The police, led by a Deputy Commissioner simply identified as Mr. Omojola from Zone II, Onikan had on that day invaded the complex on the alleged order of a former president of the association.

The trouble in the market was said to have started in 2005 when the association conducted an election in which Prince Akanegbu emerged as president. Akanegbu’s refusal to dance to the tune of Ezeibe, his predecessor, has been identified as the root of crisis in the market.

According to a statement issued by the association, one coordinator of the Christian Fellowship in the market, had organised an open prayer crusade for the traders as had been the practice every new year, but while the crusade was on, Chief Ezeibe allegedly stormed the market with mobile policemen and thugs and attempted to convert the prayer session into a political rally. During the ensuing confusion, Prince Akanegbu arrived the prayer ground and was being led to his seat by his personal assistant, Nwakeze, when policemen shot him.

One of the policemen simply identified as Mr. Adebayo was said to have shot Chinedu, who died instantly. But members of the association believe that Prince Akanegbu was the target.

After Chinedu was killed, the police, in an alleged attempt to give the scene the colouring of a clash of two rival factions inflicting many of Akanegbu’s supporters with machete cuts. Many innocent people were also arrested.

In the bedlam, Prince Akanegbu ran into one of the banks in the area for safety. Luck, however, smiled on the BBA president when a team of policemen from the CID Headquarters, Ikeja arrived the scene and succeeded in rescuing him.

Meanwhile, most of the market leaders are currently languishing in pains at Zone II, Onikan, Lagos as those with deep cuts are denied of good medicare, food and access to visitors.

Worse still, the association’s request for an autopsy report from the police has not been granted.

The association, therefore, wants President Umar Yar’Adua and the Inspector-General of Police to set up a panel to investigate the mayhem in the market and the role of officers and men of the Nigeria Police in the matter.

—Reported by Clement Oriloye