LAGOS, Nigeria — A violent clash on Wednesday, August 25, 2025, disrupted commercial activities at the popular Balogun Market on Lagos Island, leaving at least one person dead and forcing traders to shut their shops.
The confrontation reportedly began when two market runners had a disagreement earlier in the day.
Witnesses said one of the men, described as Yoruba, stabbed his opponent — identified as being from the eastern part of the country — with a broken bottle.
The injured man allegedly seized the weapon and retaliated, fatally stabbing his assailant.
Panic and Rumours
Shortly after the incident, unverified voice notes and text messages circulated on social media claiming that traders from the South East were being targeted in reprisal attacks.
These messages, tagged as SOS alerts, heightened panic and spread quickly online.
However, traders at the market disputed the scale of the violence.
Speaking to a news outlet around 3:30 p.m., a shop owner confirmed only one casualty.
“One person died. That I can confirm,” the trader said, adding that the situation had prompted many shop owners to close and leave the area.
Police Intervention
Security operatives were deployed to restore order.
The Lagos State Police Command said officers had been sent to the scene and that calm was being gradually restored.
By late afternoon, much of the market had been deserted, with traders citing fear of further clashes.
Authorities are expected to carry out an investigation into the incident and the spread of false alarm messages that escalated tensions.
Balogun Market, a major commercial hub on Lagos Island, is one of the busiest trading centres in Nigeria, attracting thousands of traders and shoppers daily.
The violence marks a rare but serious disruption in its operations.
