Police officers converged on suspicion of murder of 7 traders in Lagos

The Lagos State police command on Tuesday charged four officers with the murder of a trader in Chief Magistrates Ebute Metta Court in the state.

Police agents in August last year shot dead seven traders at the Owode Onirin International Spare Parts Market.

The defendants – Manu Bala (41), Jibrin Samaila (47), Ibrahim Garuba (29) and Ibrahim Kashimu, (26) – were remanded to the Kirikiri Custodial Center pending legal advice.

They were charged with seven counts of conspiracy and murder.

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Police prosecutor, Mr OW Ologun, told the court that the offense allegedly occurred on August 27, 2025, at Owode Onirin Market.

Ologun accused the defendants and others who are still at large of conspiring and shooting dead some traders with AK-47 rifles.

“The defendants and other people generally conspired and shot dead several traders with AK-47 rifles,” the prosecutor said.

According to the charge sheet filed by the Commissioner of Police, six victims were named in the alleged murder.

They include Bamidele Dare Mufutau, Adebayo Adewale Mathew, Adeoye Taiye, Abraham Idowu Temilola, Akinboye Oluwaseyi Olamilekan and Akeem Aderemi Adeoye.

Prosecutors said the offense contravened Sections 223 and 233 of the 2015 Lagos State Criminal Law.

He added that the suspects were taken to court to obtain detention orders pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“The advice will determine whether a prima facie case has been established against them,” Ologun said.

The defendants’ attorney, Azuri Ejiofor, urged the court not to grant the request for detention.

Ejiofor argued that the defendants had served more than five months in detention.

“My Lord, the defendants have been detained for more than five months,” he said.

Chief Judge E. Kubeinje granted the prosecutor’s request and ordered that the defendants be detained at the Kirikiri Detention Center pending advice from the DPP.

He adjourned the case to April 15 for mention.