Four adult men were killed on Thursday after a disagreement reportedly escalated into communal unrest at Power Line Bus Stop, Ikola, in the Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.
The incident also left several people injured, while a number of makeshift structures were reportedly destroyed during the ensuing violence.
A resident of the community, who requested anonymity, told our correspondent that the incident began with an argument involving a northerner and a man suspected to be a former leader of a cult group.
The resident said the situation escalated after the northerner allegedly stabbed the suspected cult leader, prompting a violent reaction in the community.
“What I know right now is that a Northerner stabbed a former leader of a cult group. This action triggered the riot that policemen from the Meiran Division had to call for reinforcement,” the resident said.
The source initially confirmed one death but said there were reports of additional casualties.
However, the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency later confirmed that four adult males had died in the unrest.
In a statement issued on Thursday, the Permanent Secretary of LASEMA, Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency received a distress call concerning a fire outbreak in the area at about 1:52 p.m.
According to him, the agency’s response team arrived at the scene approximately 25 minutes after receiving the alert.
“Preliminary assessment and engagement with residents at the scene indicate that the incident followed a disagreement that escalated into communal unrest,” the agency said.
“Regrettably, four adult males lost their lives and several others sustained various degrees of injuries.”
Oke-Osanyintolu said several makeshift structures were also burnt during the violence, while emergency medical assistance was provided to injured victims.
The Agbado Oke-Odo Ambulance Service, Nigerian Red Cross Society and other health responders were involved in the emergency response.
The Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service subsequently contained the fire and conducted damping-down operations to prevent further spread.
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As the situation escalated, a joint security operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, Nigerian Army, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps was activated to restore order and protect lives and property.
The Chairman of Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area also visited the scene and supported efforts to coordinate the response with community leaders.
LASEMA said normalcy had since returned to Ikola and neighbouring communities, although security personnel remained deployed in the area to prevent further breaches of public order.
The emergency agency appealed to residents to remain calm and refrain from retaliatory attacks or the circulation of unverified information that could worsen tensions.
Oke-Osanyintolu said a comprehensive investigation had commenced to determine both the immediate and underlying causes of the unrest.
He added that anyone found responsible for the violence would be prosecuted in accordance with the law.
The LASEMA permanent secretary commended emergency responders, security agencies, community leaders and residents for their cooperation in containing the situation.
The incident comes months after a separate violent clash in Ilemba Hausa, a community in the Ojo area of Lagos State, during which the police arrested 18 suspects.
The March incident involved youths in the community and was captured in a viral social media video showing groups of young men attacking one another with dangerous objects.
The Lagos State Police Command subsequently confirmed the arrests through its spokesperson, Adebisi Abimbola.