The Chairman of Lagos Island Local Government, Taiwo Oyekan, has condemned the violent clash between two salesmen at the Oluwole Urban Mall on Nnamdi Azikiwe Road, which left one person dead and disrupted trading activities on Wednesday.
Clips of the altercation circulated online, showing chaotic scenes from the Balogun Market area with conflicting accounts of what sparked the fight.
PUNCH Online gathered from eyewitnesses that the dispute began as an argument between the two men.
Then the disagreement escalated, leading to a fatal stabbing, afterwards, bystanders reportedly restrained the attacker before handing him over to security operatives.
Tension briefly flared again when friends of the deceased protested, but order was quickly restored.
In a follow-up statement issued on Wednesday, Oyekan condemned the disturbing incident as he disclosed he led a team to the scene after receiving a distress call.
“I led my team to visit the Oluwole Urban Mall on Nnamdi Azikiwe road, where two young salesmen clashed, one of them was reportedly murdered which resulted in unrest and trading activities were grounded.
“Every resident’s life is precious, and there is no justification for jungle justice.
“I urge residents and traders to shun conflict and any act that could degenerate into public unrest,” the statement partly read.
He added that his administration would continue to prioritise peace and order.
“We are committed to ensuring peaceful coexistence among residents and traders on Lagos Island,” Oyekan noted.
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Police Command said an investigation has commenced into the case and dismissed reports of an ethnic clash.
The state police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, explained that the violence stemmed from a fight among hoodlums at Balogun Market around 11 a.m.
“There was no tribal clash or disturbance between any ethnic groups.
“During the fight, one Ebuka Adindu from Abia State stabbed one Sodiq Ibrahim from Kogi State to death, and the said Ebuka Adindu in turn stabbed himself on the shoulder and became unconscious.
“He is currently under arrest in the hospital, where he is being treated.
“Investigation into the matter will be concluded, and he will be prosecuted after he has been discharged from the hospital,” Hundeyin said.
