By Adenike Dada
The Centre for Human and Socio-Economic Rights (CHSR) has condemned what it described as a “travesty of justice” following the release of suspected killers involved in the Owode-Onirin Motor Spare Parts Market massacre, calling for an independent probe into alleged complicity by the Nigeria Police Force and the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.
The incident, which occurred earlier this year, left seven traders dead, dozens injured, and about 50 vehicles and shops destroyed during a violent attack allegedly linked to a land dispute involving a well-known land grabber, Abiodun (Hakeem) Ariori.
In a statement signed by CHSR President, Comrade Alex Omotehinse, the group accused the Nigeria Police Force of shielding officers and individuals implicated in the killings.
Omotehinse said three policemen who allegedly participated in the shooting of unarmed traders were “whisked away to Abuja” instead of being tried in Lagos, where the crime took place.
“The so-called orderly room trial that freed the officers on flimsy claims of self-defence is a mockery of justice,” Omotehinse said. “You cannot claim self-defence against unarmed traders defending their shops and livelihoods.”
The group also condemned the reported release on bail of Abiodun Ariori, who was accused of masterminding the attack, alleging that police deliberately failed to challenge his bail application.
CHSR further alleged that some families of the deceased were being forced to pay exorbitant fees to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones for burial.
“This exploitation of grief is barbaric, inhuman, and unacceptable,” Omotehinse added.
The organisation also criticized the Attorney General of Lagos State, Mr. Lawal Pedro (SAN), over comments suggesting that the Owode-Onirin crisis was not connected to land grabbing.
CHSR described the statement as “reckless, misleading, and insulting to the victims,” arguing that it was part of a deliberate effort to downplay the tragedy and shield the perpetrators.
“By trivializing the massacre, the Attorney General has delegitimized the victims’ pain and reinforced the perception that justice in Lagos is for sale to the rich and politically connected,” the statement said.
CHSR noted that the Owode-Onirin tragedy reflects a deeper governance failure and a recurring pattern of state-backed impunity in Lagos and across Nigeria.
“The massacre is not just about traders or land. It is a litmus test for Nigeria’s justice system,” Omotehinse declared. “What we are witnessing is a state-sanctioned injustice — a criminal collaboration between land grabbers, rogue police officers, and a compromised justice ministry.”
The group urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to order an independent investigation into the killings and the alleged cover-up by security agencies and the Lagos justice ministry.
CHSR’s demands include:
- Re-arrest and prosecution of the three police officers and land grabber Abiodun Ariori in Lagos courts.
- An end to police impunity, including the practice of transferring cases to Abuja to avoid public scrutiny.
- Immediate release of victims’ remains to their families without financial extortion.
- Oversight by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), and civil society coalitions to ensure transparency.
CHSR vowed to mobilize both local and international advocacy if justice continues to be delayed or denied.
“The blood of the Owode-Onirin victims cries for justice,” the statement concluded. “Justice delayed is justice denied, and justice denied is democracy betrayed.”
