Ondo: Traders grieve as vandals destroy shops and goods worth millions of Naira

— Say, we were given 11 days

By Dayo Johnson, Akure

Approximately 20 armed men destroyed property worth millions of naira belonging to traders at the busy FUTA junction in Akure, the capital of Ondo State.

The attackers used bulldozers to demolish containers, provisions, food items, household goods, drinks and bottled water.

Traders and residents on the scene were seen crying and pleading with individuals and the government for assistance.

Trader Hellen Chidinma said she had received a quit notice three months ago, but the landlord assured her that the land had not been sold. “We forwarded the paper to the lawyer,” she said.

When the three‑month period ended, another notice was served, giving the traders 11 days to vacate.

After the 11 days expired, the landlord appeared the next day and threatened to bring bulldozers if they did not pack up. “We immediately called our lawyer and the landowner, and they told us to report to the police station, which we did,” Chidinma said.

“The landlord also reported to the station, then returned with police and bulldozers.”

Another trader, Seyi Jonathan, explained that the land dispute had been ongoing for eight years. “A family that owned the land sold it to another person. They went to court, and along the way the original owner died. Both parties later joined forces and sold the land to a third person who issued the quit notice.”

“We have been paying rent to them. Suddenly we saw bulldozers this morning,” he said.

Before the traders could finish packing, the attackers began destroying goods worth millions of naira.

“Later we learned that the land was sold to another person, and that person had gone to court. The original owner died during the process. The two parties then joined forces and sold the land to a third person who issued the quit notice. We have been paying rent to them. Suddenly we saw bulldozers this morning and were told to pack our belongings. Before we knew it, they started destroying our goods worth millions of naira with bulldozers.”

Police spokesperson DSP Jimoh Abayomi was not reached for comment.

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