Balogun Market Incident clarified by Lagos Police, confirming it was a fight among hoodlums, not a tribal clash, with suspect arrested and peace restored
Balogun Market Incident has been clarified by the Lagos State Police Command, which confirmed that Wednesday’s violence was not a tribal clash, contrary to speculation on social media.
Police spokesperson CSP Benjamin Hundeyin explained that the fight in the Mandillas area of Lagos Island resulted in the death of one Sodiq Ibrahim, who was stabbed by Ebuka Adindu during the scuffle.
Eyewitness posts on social media alleged that street urchins hijacked the unrest and began attacking innocent people. However, Hundeyin dismissed the claims as false.
“Your claim of street urchins taking over the street is false. Please do not cause unnecessary panic. DPOs Lion Building and Ebute-Ero are currently on the ground with their men, maintaining the restored peace.
Also, the suspect has been arrested and is in custody for further necessary actions,” he stated.
According to the police, the clash was strictly among hoodlums and bore no ethnic undertones. Hundeyin revealed that the suspect, Adindu, also stabbed himself in the shoulder during the fight and is receiving treatment under police custody.
He stressed that no other casualties were recorded, nor was property destroyed in the fracas.
“The Lagos State Police Command wishes to reiterate that the incident is not a tribal clash but purely between miscreants and hoodlums around the Balogun Market. Normalcy has been restored,” Hundeyin said.
Quoting the Commissioner of Police, Olohundare Jimoh, Hundeyin urged Lagosians to stay calm, remain law-abiding, and disregard rumours capable of sparking unnecessary fear.
