Panic erupted at the bustling Balogun Market on Lagos Island on Wednesday following a violent clash that reportedly claimed at least two lives. Videos circulated on social media showed grim scenes, including a man lying motionless on the ground after a machete attack and the suspected assailant, stripped naked and reportedly lynched by an angry mob.
The exact cause of the violence remains unclear, with eyewitnesses providing conflicting accounts. Some suggest the unrest stemmed from a cult-related confrontation, while others attribute it to an inter-tribal dispute between Yoruba and Igbo traders.
In the aftermath, shops were hastily closed as traders and bystanders fled the scene to ensure their safety. Security agencies had yet to release an official statement on the incident at the time this report was filed.
The volatile situation at Balogun Market has heightened concerns about market security and ethnic tensions in the area, underscoring the need for prompt intervention to restore peace.