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There was pandemonium on Friday evening at the Amuwo-Odofin Local Government area-owned Shopping Complex located at Mile 2 in Lagos State as residents and shop owners protested the alleged extortion and harassment by one Alhaji Saheed Abiola, popularly known as Zyad 1 Ultimate.

Frustrated traders were seen gathered in clusters carrying placards and chanting solidarity songs in protest to the alleged high-handedness of the said Abiola.

One of the traders who spoke to newsmen said Abiola had made life unbearable for them by imposing unreasonable levies and sending thugs to beat them despite the fact that he (Abiola) isn’t an executive of the market association.

Another distressed trader who spoke in anger said, “We can no longer do our businesses in the market for fear of being attacked by thugs loyal to Abiola. These thugs used to pounce on any trader who dares to challenge him. He has now taken to flogging aged traders, not caring about their frail health and bodies. He used to boast that he has the police in Festac in his pocket and that nobody would be able to do anything to him. He used to drop names of important people to further cow the traders. He’s mostly fond of dropping Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s name!”

Watch protest video below:

Asked if they had reported the case to the police and local government authorities, another visibly terrified trader said, “We tried talking with the police. They all seem to have been bought by Abiola. He even once boasted of it openly. We’ve marched to Alausa Police Area Commands and other law enforcement agencies. All our efforts were futile. Each time we took such actions, this man and his thugs bounced back even bolder to inflict more harm and injury on innocent people.”

Continuing, the trader said, “Now we have decided to take our destinies into our hands and that is why we are protesting. We don’t care what he does next. He has enriched himself selfishly with the illegal fines. Governor Akinwunmi Ambode needs to save his government from a tyrant.”

Efforts to reach the embattled Abiola was unsuccessful at press time as he did not pick nor return calls and text messages sent to his phone, neither was his whereabouts known.

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