By Bosun Obafemi
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Joe Igbokwe, has denied reports that he was assaulted during a visit to the popular Ladipo Spare Parts Market in Lagos, insisting that the incident involved only verbal hostility from some traders.
Igbokwe made the clarification in a video shared on social media on Friday, following widespread reports claiming he was attacked by traders during his visit to the market on June 5.
According to him, he had gone to Ladipo Market to purchase spare parts for his vehicle when some traders, whom he described as predominantly of Igbo extraction, began taunting and insulting him.
Videos circulating online showed a crowd of traders booing the APC chieftain and chanting against him as he moved through the market.
Reacting to reports that he was physically assaulted, Igbokwe dismissed the claims as false, maintaining that no one laid hands on him.
He, however, warned that any attempt to physically attack him would attract serious consequences.
“If they try it again, they will collect, and they will collect big. They may not see that market in the next one year,” he said.
The APC chieftain further stressed that Lagos should not be compared to any other region of the country, declaring, “This is Lagos, not the South-East.”
His comments have since generated reactions on social media, with supporters and critics debating both the incident and his remarks.
As of the time of filing this report, there has been no official statement from market authorities or security agencies regarding the incident.
