Failure to comply with the directive on trading days guideline has landed no fewer than 119 traders in police net in Lagos.

Ninety five of them, compromising of 70 males and 25 females were said to have been apprehended at Ilepo market in Oke-Odo area of the state, while the rest were nabbed at Kwa Kwa uku area of Agege.

As part of measures to curb the spreed of the coronavirus pandemic in Lagos, the State Government had allotted specific days which certain group of marketers and traders would open within the week.

According to the guidelines, sellers of non perishable goods such as spare parts, tyres, iron rods, clothes among others are to open on Mondays, Wednesday and Fridays while traders in foodstuffs are to open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

However, the reculcitrant traders were said to have disregarded the directive and opened shops on an unapproved days.

While parading the suspects at the command headquarter, Lagos State Commissioner of Police Hakeem Odumosu said the Ilepo market traders were arrested on Sunday 10th May, 2020 at about 1pm.

Odumosu disclosed that the traders put up a stiff resistance,but we’re subdued by a re-enforcement team drafted to the market from Oke-Odo Division.

He emphasized that sunday is not one of the days appoved for foodstuffs sellers, noting that they violated the guideline issued by the government.

” Ninety five suspects arrested at Ilepo market for operating in violation of the guidelines issued by Government
On 10/5/2020 at about 1000 hours, a team of Policemen from Oke Odo Division were drafted to Ilepo market to stop the traders from opening their shops on a Sunday which violated the guideline issued by Government. Markets are only allowed to open on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

The enforcement team met a stiff resistance from the traders. We send reinforcement to the area. Seventy male suspects and twenty five female suspects were arrested”, Odumosu explained.

He identified the remaining 24 suspects to include one Balikis Obadina, a 30 year old food, drugs and alcoholic seller.

Odumosu said they were arrested at kwakwa uku area, Agege for violating the curfew order on 8th May, 2020 at about 8pm by operatives from Area G Command.

The police boss explained that the said Balikis, 23, was met selling food while others were consuming alcohol and illicit drugs.

” On sighting the Police, they became violent, hauling stones and bottles on the enforcement teams”, Odumosu disclosed.
He said all the suspects will be charged to Court.