The bustling streets of Lagos Island have once again been thrown into grief and outrage following the tragic death of a young female apprentice, Shadiat Nurudeen, who died weeks after she was allegedly assaulted by a male trader at the Iga Kosoko Market. Her story has sparked renewed conversations about market violence, the vulnerability of young workers, and the growing culture of impunity in many local markets across Lagos State.
According to a detailed report by PUNCH Metro, the unfortunate event took place on September 12, 2025, when traders at Iga Kosoko Market were closing their shops to mourn the death of another trader. The market, known for its crowded stalls and vibrant textile trade, had slowed down for the day. During this time, Shadiat Nurudeen, an apprentice learning the trade of Kampala fabric at Sunrise Plaza, was seen carefully packing her goods.
What should have been a quiet moment turned violent. Witnesses said a misunderstanding broke out between Shadiat and a male trader whose shop was nearby. In the heat of the argument, the man reportedly punched her in the nose, causing a deep cut and heavy bleeding.
Other traders and apprentices rushed to the scene. Blood covered her clothes as she reportedly collapsed from the blow. Panic followed, and she was immediately taken to nearby hospitals for emergency care.
Reports indicate that Shadiat was taken to three different hospitals before she finally received treatment and stitches for her injury. Her nose had been severely damaged, and doctors advised her to take time off work for proper healing.
For two weeks, she remained at home. According to people close to her, she had started feeling slightly better and was eager to return to the market to continue her apprenticeship. Like many young apprentices, she feared that being absent from work for too long might slow her progress or upset her boss.
However, her health began to deteriorate soon after she resumed. Family members noticed signs of weakness and fatigue. Before long, she began to experience convulsions and episodes of loss of consciousness. Concerned relatives and colleagues rushed her to different medical centres, including Awesome Hospital in Surulere, but her condition worsened rapidly.
On October 16, 2025, she was moved to Gbagada General Hospital, where doctors battled to stabilize her condition. Sadly, after days of struggle, she passed away on October 21, 2025.
Photos shared showed the young woman’s face swollen and bruised, with medical plasters covering her nose and forehead. In one video circulating on social media, she appeared restless and in visible pain, lying weakly on a hospital bed.
A close associate of the family, Ola Muhammed, explained to reporters that the entire confrontation began when a shop counter near where Shadiat was packing her goods collapsed unexpectedly. He said the male trader accused her of being responsible, which led to the argument and eventual assault.
“She was packing her stock when the announcement was made that another trader had died,” Muhammed recounted. “A male trader, who was also repacking his goods, was nearby when a counter belonging to a neighboring shop fell. That was when the misunderstanding started.”
The matter was reported to the police shortly after the fight. It was later transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) for deeper inquiry.
Following growing public outrage, especially after the story went viral on Instagram and other social platforms, the police reportedly invited the suspect for questioning. He was said to have arrived at the station accompanied by his lawyer. Members of the bereaved family, along with market leaders, were also present during the police session.
However, efforts by journalists to obtain an official statement from the Lagos State Police Command proved unsuccessful. The command’s spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, did not respond to calls or messages as of Tuesday, PUNCH Metro reported.
For Shadiat’s family, the pain is unbearable. A promising young woman who left home each morning with dreams of building a career in trade has now become another name in the growing list of victims of market violence in Lagos.
Sadly, this is not an isolated case. In August 2025, PUNCH Online reported a deadly confrontation in the Mandilas area of Lagos Island, where a trader was stabbed to death during a market brawl. Later that same month, a violent clash at the Owode Onirin Spare Parts Market resulted in six deaths and several injuries.
These recurring incidents paint a disturbing picture of life in many Lagos markets. Behind the vibrant stalls and endless buzz of business lies a darker reality of competition, territorial disputes, and poor conflict management. Disagreements over space, pricing, or customers often escalate into violence because there are few structured systems for mediation or enforcement of rules.
Cases like Shadiat’s also highlight the vulnerability of young women in Nigeria’s informal workforce. Female apprentices are often at the bottom of the social hierarchy in many markets. They depend on senior traders or shop owners for training, exposure, and survival. When violence occurs, they rarely have the power or protection to defend themselves.
There are questions about how markets are managed and what safety measures are in place to protect workers. Many markets in Lagos operate under informal leadership structures, often with weak or non-existent enforcement of conduct rules. Police presence is minimal unless serious violence erupts.
Human rights advocates and market observers are calling for stronger market regulations and better security systems to protect traders and apprentices. Suggestions include the installation of surveillance cameras, proper registration of shop owners, and stricter penalties for physical assault within markets.
Community leaders also stress the need for conflict resolution training among traders. Many disputes could be resolved peacefully through dialogue or the intervention of market associations before they spiral into tragedy.
Those who knew Shadiat describe her as hardworking, gentle, and respectful. She was reportedly in her early twenties and had been apprenticing for over two years. Her dream was to complete her training and open her own fabric shop someday.
Her untimely death has left her family devastated. Fellow traders at Iga Kosoko Market have also expressed sorrow and anger, demanding justice and better protection for young apprentices. Some traders have suggested organizing an awareness campaign in her memory to draw attention to the dangers of unchecked violence in markets.
The death of Shadiat Nurudeen is more than a personal tragedy. It is a symbol of systemic neglect in Nigeria’s informal trading sector. It exposes how easily violence can erupt in crowded markets and how slowly justice can move when the victims are young, poor, or female.
Authorities must take this case seriously. The Lagos State government and market unions need to ensure that proper investigation and prosecution follow. Her family deserves closure, and other traders deserve to feel safe in their workplaces.
Rest in Peace, Shadiat
As Lagos mourns another needless death, Shadiat’s story stands as a painful reminder that behind every market stall is a human being trying to make a living. Her life, though cut short, has become a rallying point for justice and reform.
May her soul rest in peace, and may her death inspire real change in how our markets are governed.
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