The National Coalition Against Mass Killings, Extra-Judicial Killings, Mob Actions and Impunity (NCAMKI) has condemned the killing of six traders at the Owode Onirin Spare-parts Market in Lagos by police officers allegedly from Nasarawa State.
According to the coalition in a statement on Wednesday, the traders were shot dead by officers whose identities are known, yet they have reportedly been released or not prosecuted, an act it described as a clear failure of justice.
The group said the killings were a “moral disgrace” and warned that such unchecked abuses could further erode public trust in Nigeria’s law enforcement institutions.
“The killing of citizens — who were simply seeking to make a living — is a moral disgrace to the country. That the killers roam free while grieving families cry out for justice is a crucible test for Nigeria’s democracy. We will not remain silent. We demand accountability now,” the spokesperson of NCAMKI said.
The statement came amid growing public anger over reports that the slain traders were not armed and had posed no threat when they were attacked.
NCAMKI said this made the use of lethal force unacceptable in any democratic society.
It urged the Inspector General of Police, the Lagos State Governor, and the State Attorney General to immediately re-arrest and prosecute the officers involved, stressing that justice must not be delayed.
The coalition also called for the establishment of an independent commission of inquiry with participation from civil society groups, human rights advocates, and legal experts to investigate the killings and possible cover-ups.
It added that the families of the victims must be compensated, offered psychological support, and protected from intimidation or reprisals as they pursue justice.
According to NCAMKI, senior police officers who may have supervised or condoned the killings should be suspended, disciplined, or prosecuted. It further cautioned that the November 13, 2025 court mention date should not become a stalling tactic.
The group concluded that the tragedy at Owode Onirin reflected deeper structural failures within Nigeria’s security system and called for sweeping reforms to end impunity.
It urged Nigerians and the international community to demand justice, saying, “there is no immunity from justice. The time for talking has passed. The time for action is now.”