Lagos passenger crushed to death during fight over motorpark

A violent clash broke out on Sunday in the Alaba Rago area of Iba, Lagos State, between road transport workers, popularly called agberos, and supporters of a local monarch, leaving one passenger dead.

Eyewitnesses said the confrontation started over the unveiling of a new motor park allegedly built by the monarch to serve vehicles heading to northern and eastern Nigeria.

“The monarch constructed the park near Alaba Market, and it was officially opened on Saturday,” a resident, Shola, explained. “But the transport workers opposed the move because it threatens their revenue system.”

According to locals, the agberos viewed the new facility as a direct challenge to their control of levies collected from drivers in the area. Tensions peaked on Sunday morning, leading to a violent face-off between both sides.

“In the middle of the chaos, a passenger attempting to cross the road was hit by a speeding vehicle and died instantly,” another resident, Abbey, told reporters.

Video clips from the scene showed crowds gathering around the victim’s body, which was later covered with a wrapper by residents.

Confirming the incident, Lagos State Police Command spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin said the Commissioner of Police personally visited the scene for an on-the-spot assessment and has since met with both parties at the command headquarters in Ikeja.

“The CP is working to ensure peace is restored and a lasting resolution is reached,” Hundeyin stated.

Sunday’s incident adds to a series of violent disputes involving transport workers and union operatives across Lagos and nearby states. In late 2023, similar clashes in Ogun State claimed multiple lives during a confrontation between commercial motorcyclists and agberos.