*Police deploy operatives
By Adebola Isimijola, Lagos
Three persons have been killed and two others injured following a violent clash in the Ikola axis of Lagos State, with some buildings also reportedly set ablaze during the incident.
The violence occurred on Thursday, August 27, 2026, after a disagreement involving a tricycle rider and suspected area boys reportedly escalated into a confrontation between two groups.
According to a statement issued by the Lagos State Police Command through its spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebesi, preliminary information indicated that some suspected area boys had stopped a tricycle rider and demanded ₦200 from him.
The rider allegedly refused to pay, prompting the group to seize his tricycle. He subsequently returned with some persons, leading to a violent confrontation between the two groups.
“Sadly, three (3) persons were reportedly killed, while two (2) others sustained injuries,” the statement said.
It added that some buildings were also reportedly set ablaze during the ensuing violence, while the deceased and injured victims were taken to the Military Hospital, Yaba, for necessary medical attention and other procedures.
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, Tijani Olaiwola Fatai, accompanied by the Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brig. Gen. Afolabi Owolabi, visited the scene to assess the situation and coordinate the security response.
Following the incident, the Police Command deployed personnel from the Rapid Response Squad, Taskforce, Tactical Squad, Police Mobile Force, Eko Strike Force and the Violence Crime Response Unit to the area.
The command said the security operatives were maintaining law and order and working to prevent any further escalation.
“The situation is firmly under control, and efforts are ongoing to prevent any further escalation,” the police said.
The Command also confirmed that an investigation had commenced, assuring that anyone found culpable would face the full weight of the law.
It urged residents to remain calm, refrain from spreading unverified information and avoid actions capable of worsening the situation.
The police further appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could assist investigators in unraveling the circumstances surrounding the clash.
The latest police account differs from an earlier emergency agency report which put the death toll at four adult males.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency had also reported that several makeshift structures were destroyed during the unrest.
However, the police statement issued on August 27, officially put the number of confirmed reported deaths from the incident at three, pending
the outcome of further investigation.