Traders at the Ojuwoye Market, Mushin, Lagos State have called on the state government to save them from the activities of some hoodlums in the market.

The traders said the hoodlums extorted and harassed them on a daily basis which was affecting their businesses.

The traders made the claims on Tuesday at a press briefing organised by the market leaders.

They said they had written several petitions to the police, Department of State Services, the Lagos State Government and even the Olu of Mushin, Oba Fatai Aileru, which were abortive.

They said their decision to write to the traditional ruler was because most of the hoodlums were indigenes of the area.

Aileru was said to have intervened by appealing to the gang to stay off the market, but the men did not listen to him.

The female leader of the Ojuwoye Market Women and Men Association, Mrs. Mufuliat Adebunmi, said, “They ask for weekend money, monthly dues, union levy, and many others. They are not under any registered union or association. They have no executive, office, or anything. You just see them moving around, harassing the traders and extorting money from them.

“We have been on this issue for over 10 years now. About two years ago, they introduced the issue of extorting the traders every end of the year. They will ask shop owners to pay N10, 000 each for Christmas and New Year, while those in kiosks and attachments will be asked to pay N7, 000. Those who refuse to pay are harassed and their goods seized.”

Another trader, who pleaded anonymity, said, “Most of us pay the money because we don’t want trouble.

“On one occasion, I challenged them, saying that there was no basis for the money they were collecting. One of them said that it was for our own good that we continued to pay, otherwise we would return to the market one day and see our shops had been burgled. Those guys are dangerous and it seems that even the police are afraid of them.”

Adebunmi appealed to the government to come to their aid as the activities of the group were having negative effects on the traders.