Joe Igbokwe, a prominent chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in Lagos, has denied reports that he was beaten by a mob at Ladipo Market. The denial came on Saturday, June 6, after viral videos and online claims suggested he was physically assaulted by individuals displeased with his long-standing criticism of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and its leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is currently serving a life prison sentence in Sokoto.
Incident at Ladipo Market
Ladipo Market in Mushin, Lagos, is widely recognised as Nigeria's largest auto spare parts market and is predominantly populated and operated by Igbo businessmen. Igbokwe, who is Igbo from Nnewi in Anambra state, visited the market on Friday, June 5, to purchase spare parts for his vehicle. At the market, some individuals recognised him, gathered around him, and openly criticised him.
Igbokwe's Account of Events
Speaking on the incident, Igbokwe warned that if such an occurrence happens again and escalates, those involved “will collect big.” According to him, some Ladipo Market traders attempted to provoke him, but he remained calm. He said: “They were coming. I now decided to move away from that place. I went to my friend's shop. Then I was there. My friend went to call the leadership of the market. All of them came. Then I said 'let me just go'. And I came outside, I saw a lot of people, talking, saying all kinds of things, I didn't say anything, I just drove away.”
He added: “So this morning, I was going through my Facebook page, I saw some people say Joe Igbokwe was beaten. This is me live. Did I look like somebody who was beaten? They cannot do it in Lagos. There are things you cannot do here. You can go to southeast and be doing the rubbish you've been doing there and the shame you have brought to us over the years, but not in Lagos. I pray that it will not happen again.”
The 70-year-old further stated: “Nothing happened to me. I am okay. Nobody touched me; nobody even near my face. Nobody did that. This is just to put the record straight. People have been calling me. They can't do it in Lagos. If they do it in Lagos, I tell you they will collect. That market, they may not see that market in the next one year. Nobody will go into that place.”
Background of Tensions
Igbokwe's denial comes amid ongoing criticism from some persons of southeast extraction who accuse him of being anti-Igbo. Past incidents link Igbokwe to IPOB tensions, including the arson of his home in Anambra state in October 2021. In a Facebook post at the time, Igbokwe accused IPOB members of being responsible for the attack, though he did not provide evidence. Unidentified gunmen had targeted prominent personalities in the southeast, including Chike Akunyili, a medical doctor and husband of the late NAFDAC boss, Dora Akunyili. Most attacks have been blamed on IPOB members, but the IPOB leadership has distanced itself from the attacks.
Conclusion
Igbokwe's clarification aims to set the record straight and warn against future provocations at the popular spare parts market. He emphasised that no harm came to him and that such actions will not be tolerated in Lagos.
