An Ebute Metta Chief Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday ordered the remand of four officers of the Nigeria Police Force accused of shooting and killing traders at the Owode Onirin International Spare Parts Market in Lagos.
The defendants Manu Bala, Jibrin Samaila, Ibrahim Garuba, and Ibrahim Kashimu were ordered to be held at the Kirikiri Custodial Centre pending legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The four officers are facing a seven-count charge that includes conspiracy and murder.
During the court proceedings, the police prosecutor, O. W. Ologun, told the court that the alleged offences occurred on August 27, 2025, at about 9 a.m. at the bustling spare parts market in Owode Onirin.
According to the prosecutor, the defendants allegedly conspired with other suspects who are still at large to carry out the attack on traders at the market.
Ologun further alleged that the suspects used AK-47 rifles to open fire on several traders at the market, resulting in multiple deaths.
“The defendants and others at large conspired and shot several traders to death with AK-47 rifles,” the prosecutor told the court.
The charge sheet filed by the Nigeria Police Force, through the Commissioner of Police, listed six victims who were allegedly killed during the incident. They were identified as Bamidele Dare Mufutau, Adebayo Adewale Mathew, Adeoye Taiye, Abraham Idowu Temilola, Akinboye Oluwaseyi Olamilekan, and Akeem Aderemi Adeoye.
The prosecutor informed the court that the alleged offences contravened Sections 223 and 233 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
He explained that the suspects were brought before the court primarily to obtain a remand order while awaiting legal advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions, which will determine whether sufficient evidence exists to establish a prima facie case against them.
“The advice will determine whether a prima facie case has been established against them,” Ologun added.
However, defence counsel Azuri Ejiofor urged the court to reject the prosecution’s request for remand. He argued that the accused officers had already spent more than five months in detention before their arraignment.
Despite the objection, the court ruled that the defendants should remain in custody at the Kirikiri Custodial Centre pending further legal advice from the DPP.