Three people have been confirmed dead and a police officer critically injured following a violent clash between alleged land grabbers and traders at Balogun Market, located on Lagos Island.
The Lagos State Police Command confirmed the incident on Wednesday through a statement issued by the Command’s spokesperson, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin.
The deadly incident, which occurred on Tuesday, sparked panic across the area as gunshots rang out, with traders and bystanders fleeing for safety.
Initial reports had suggested that the clash was between Yoruba and Igbo traders, but the police have debunked this narrative, stating instead that the violence was caused by a dispute involving suspected land grabbers and traders.
According to the police statement, three persons sustained fatal injuries during the clash and were rushed to a nearby hospital, where they were later confirmed dead. A police inspector, who was also caught in the violence while trying to restore order, was seriously injured and remains in critical condition at an undisclosed hospital.
“The injured Police Inspector is currently in a life-threatening condition and receiving treatment,” Hundeyin said.
Preliminary police investigations have linked the chaos to one Abiodun Ariori, the Chief Executive Officer of Prosperous Ariori Golden Venture Limited. According to CSP Hundeyin, Ariori played a major role in triggering the clash and is now on the run.
“Abiodun Ariori is hereby declared wanted by the Lagos State Police Command as all efforts to effect his arrest and bring him to justice have so far proved abortive,” Hundeyin said.
He added, “It is very clear that he has gone into hiding.”
The statement did not go into detail about the exact cause of the dispute or what actions were taken by Ariori or his associates. However, sources close to the market said tensions had been brewing in recent weeks over alleged land ownership and attempts by certain individuals to seize parts of the market for redevelopment.
Eyewitnesses said men suspected to be thugs arrived at the market in large numbers, allegedly claiming to have orders to take possession of certain shops and land. This move was resisted by traders, leading to a violent confrontation that escalated rapidly.
Gunshots were reportedly fired during the clash, with some traders injured in the stampede that followed.
Security operatives, including the police and other emergency response teams, were deployed to the scene to restore order.
CSP Hundeyin confirmed that calm has since returned to the area and that security presence has been increased to prevent further unrest.
“Normalcy has been restored in the area. The police remain committed to maintaining law and order and will ensure that those behind this act of violence are brought to book,” he said.
The police have called on members of the public with useful information about the whereabouts of Abiodun Ariori to come forward or contact the nearest police station. They have also urged traders and residents to remain calm and avoid spreading ethnic-based rumours that could inflame tensions.
Lagos Island’s Balogun Market is one of the busiest commercial hubs in the state and a major center for clothing, fabric, and general goods. In recent years, it has witnessed several clashes tied to ownership and redevelopment of market space — often involving private developers and shop owners.
Land grabbing remains a persistent problem in Lagos, where rapid urban development has created high demand for real estate. Despite multiple laws aimed at curbing the activities of “omo-onile” (land grabbers), many cases continue to result in violence.
The Lagos State Government had in 2016 signed into law the Property Protection Law, aimed at reducing illegal land takeover. However, enforcement has remained a challenge.
Residents, traders, and civil society groups have continued to call for stronger regulation and protection from both land speculators and violent enforcers often hired in these disputes.
The Lagos State Police Command has assured the public that justice will be served in this case and that ongoing investigations will lead to the arrest of all individuals connected to the violence.
