The atmosphere at Okelewo Under-bridge popularly known as Tarmak in Abeokuta the Ogun state capital, was tense this morning as operatives of Nigeria Police Force, Ogun State command was at the phone market to enforce a court order of eviction.
The enforcement was as a result of a court order granted by Ogun State High court in February 2020, and another on 11th of September 2023.
The portion of land where the phone dealers occupied have been in dispute since few years, as several families have approached the occupants for illegal possession of their properties.
The portion of land was acquired by the former Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, but undocumented given to the phone dealer to do business temporarily with makeshift stores.
One Odubela family in Ibara had obtained an enrolment order from the Ogun State High Court to apply for a writ of enforcement to take possession of the land housing the phone market.
As at the time of filling this report, the phone market was sealed with caution tape and surrounded by Mobile policemen fully armed.
Earlier today, members of the Mobile Phone Dealers and Technicians Association (MOPDATEC) who are occupiers of the market stalls were seen protesting when they could not gained access to their shops.
Caution was however thrown to the wind when the police officers ordered the shop owners to stay away or risk arrest.
This development infuriated the shop owners and mobilized themselves to the scene.
The policemen fired stray bullets into the air before discharging tear gas to disperse the angry protesters.
The chairman of the mobile phone dealers, Ifeoluwa Togunwa got to the scene to address the situation, but was taken away by police officers.
Several phone calls to the mobile line of the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola was unanswered as at the time of writing this report.
The lawyer to the Odubela family was also unreachable for their reaction.