A section of the Ilepo market at Oke Odo has been set on fire as hoodlums clashed with traders in Lagos State.
The fight, which began as a result of betting money on Wednesday night, persisted well into Thursday morning, leaving many injured and significant damage in its wake.
Flames engulfed market sections, consuming shops and destroying goods amidst the turmoil.
According to accounts from the scene reported by Daily Trust, the confrontation stemmed from a disagreement over bet money
A trader, having won ₦13,000, was allegedly shortchanged ₦2,000 by the lottery operator, sparking the initial conflict.
“One of the traders in the market played lotto (bet Naija) and won N13,000 but was given N11,000 and because of the N2,000 balance which the he was not given fight started.”
The situation quickly spiraled out of control as nearby hoodlums seized the opportunity to exploit the chaos.
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Rampant looting ensued, with shops plundered and valuable items pilfered from the premises.
Access to the market became restricted as the turmoil intensified. Despite police efforts to quell the unrest, tear gas canisters echoed through the area as authorities struggled to restore order.
In the aftermath, the market community faced substantial financial losses, with millions of naira worth of merchandise gone up in smoke or stolen amid the mayhem.
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