Bodija Traders Raise Alarm Over Planned Eviction, Appeal to Makinde -

More than 1,000 traders operating at the Ori Igi section of Bodija International Market have appealed to Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, to intervene in an alleged move to demolish their shops after receiving a 21-day quit notice.

The traders, who expressed fear over the development, said the planned action by the Ibadan North Local Government/Aare Latosa Council Development Area could render many families jobless and threaten their sources of livelihood.

They alleged that they had faced harassment since the notice was issued, urging relevant authorities to prevent any action capable of disrupting commercial activities in the market.

Speaking on behalf of affected traders, a market leader behind Bodija Police Station, Alhaji Wasiu Agbaje, said they were not against the redevelopment of the market but opposed any arrangement that would make it difficult for existing traders to return after reconstruction.

Agbaje alleged that plans to demolish the shops and later reallocate them through consultants at high costs would place the facilities beyond the reach of ordinary traders.

“We support development, but the process must not push away the people who have built their businesses here over the years. Many traders may not be able to afford the shops again if they are resold at exorbitant prices,” he said.

He appealed to Governor Makinde to intervene, stressing that the proposed demolition could have serious economic consequences for thousands of traders and their dependants.

Also, the Arewa Traders Association at the Ori Igi section said the market, established in 1987, had remained a centre of peaceful business activities involving traders from different parts of Nigeria.

The association’s secretary, Alhaji Bappa Hurso, said the traders were not carried along before the quit notice was issued, describing the development as worrisome.

The notice, dated August 14, 2026, and signed by Ogunrobi T on behalf of the Ibadan North Local Government/Aare Latosa Council Development Area, informed traders of plans to demolish some “dilapidated shops” close to Bodija Police Station and directed them to vacate their belongings within 21 days.

The traders have appealed to the state government, security agencies, and traditional institutions to intervene in the matter to prevent hardship and maintain peace within the market.