The cause of the popular Lagos State market out break has been revealed. According to eyewitnesses account, the market was set on fire following alleged refusal of a betting agent to pay the N60,000 won by a customer.
According to VANGUARD the disagreement over the payment of the staked money degenerated into ethnic clash in the market. As a result of the melee that erupted, the popular Oke Odo Market in Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area of Lagos State was set on fire.
VANGUARD reports that the issue that led to the crisis started late on Wednesday night. A Yoruba man staker had won the sum of N60,000 in the popular Baba Ijebu betting forum.
When he wanted to collect his win from the betting agent, a man from the North, the agent allegedly refused to pay him. He allegedly told the winner to be ready to part with some money.
“This angered the winner who said he would only give him anything on his own volition. Noting that the agent should not force him to part with any amount from his win. The situation became a matter of hot argument and the betting agent ran to take refuge among his people in the nearby refuse dump.
“The winner also chased him to the place and they started fighting. And in the commotion, some friends of the betting agent came in to assist their friend. The friends of the bet winner also joined the fray too, and there was fracas” the source said.
However, nobody could say who ignited the fire that burnt down some shops in the market.
The source also stated that some people sustained severe injuries during the fight. The police have put the situation under control.
However, as at Thursday, most of the stalls and shops in the market still remained closed to business.
source: Vanguard
