Lagos Mirror Magazine
Commercial activities at the popular Badagry International Market, Agbalata, came to a complete halt on Tuesday as traders and residents observed a total shutdown in honour of the late monarch of Badagry Kingdom, His Royal Majesty, De Wheno Aholu Menu Toyi I (OFR, LLD, JP, D.Lit), the Akran of Badagry, who joined his ancestors on Monday, 12 January 2026.
The usually vibrant and bustling market was unusually quiet, with shops firmly locked and traders absent, reflecting a deep sense of mourning across the ancient town. The shutdown followed long-standing traditional customs that require public institutions and commercial centres to observe solemnity upon the passing of a reigning monarch.
The decision to suspend trading was taken collectively by market leaders as a sign of respect for the royal stool and the revered position of the Akran within the cultural and historical heritage of Badagry. The late monarch was widely regarded as a custodian of tradition, a unifying figure, and a stabilising influence whose reign promoted peace, cultural pride, and communal harmony.
Residents described the market closure as a symbolic gesture that underscores the strong bond between the people of Badagry and their traditional institution. The mood across Agbalata and its environs remained subdued, as the community reflected on the life, leadership, and legacy of the departed monarch while awaiting further burial rites and traditional directives.
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