Igbo trader weeps as Lagos demolishes only shop in his area, sparking fresh ethnic tension debate

A heart-wrenching video circulating on social media shows an Igbo trader in Lagos breaking down in tears after his shop—the only one reportedly owned by an Igbo man in the area—was demolished without prior notice by state authorities.

The three-minute clip, filmed at the rubble site, captures the man lamenting the loss of his entire livelihood, saying he had “nowhere to start again,” while sympathizers tried to console him.

The demolition, part of the Lagos State Government’s ongoing urban renewal drive, has ignited renewed allegations of ethnic bias and selective enforcement.

Since early October 2025, the government has intensified demolitions in areas such as FESTAC, Abule-Ado, and the Lagos Trade Fair complex, zones known for heavy Igbo business ownership. Human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) condemned the demolitions as illegal, accusing the state of defying existing court injunctions that protected certain properties from forceful removal.

Meanwhile, several Igbo socio-cultural groups, including Ohanaeze Ndigbo Youth Council and the South-East Traders’ Union, have petitioned the United Nations and ECOWAS, calling the demolitions a violation of property rights and ethnic inclusion principles. They argue that the state’s actions disproportionately affect non-indigenous residents, particularly southeastern traders who form a large part of Lagos’ commercial backbone.

Online, the video has sparked intense debate. Replies under the viral post reflect deep national fault lines—while many users expressed sympathy and demanded justice, others resorted to tribal slurs, urging the trader to “go back to his state.” One user wrote, “How can one man’s shop be the only one targeted? This looks personal.” Another retorted, “Lagos is for Lagosians; others should invest at home.”

Observers warn that such sentiments mirror the ethnic polarization that flared during the 2023 elections, when similar narratives about non-indigenes and property rights dominated public discourse. Analysts say the current wave of demolitions, even if legally justified, risks deepening mistrust among Nigeria’s ethnic groups and further straining intercommunal harmony in the nation’s economic capital.

As the dust settles—literally and politically—the image of one crying trader standing amid the ruins of his shop has become a powerful symbol of displacement and exclusion, reigniting old questions about belonging, fairness, and the true meaning of “One Nigeria.”

Watch the video below