Free-for-all in Lagos market after Igbo trader stabbed Yoruba counterpart 

Mandilas Market on Lagos Island descended into chaos on Wednesday after a fight that broke out between two menial traders turned fatal.

It was gathered that the clash began as an argument over the sharing of job earnings between two young traders — one Igbo and the other Yoruba — before spiraling out of control.

In the heat of the quarrel, the Igbo trader allegedly stabbed his Yoruba counterpart, who was rushed to the hospital but later confirmed dead.

As the news of the stabbing and death spread through market, friends of the deceased descended on the suspect, nearly lynching him until police intervened and rescued the Igbo boy while some of the assailants were arrested.

It was further gathered that the assailants who came from the Agarawu area, injured other traders and innocent bystanders.

However, the police warned that the altercation should not been seen with tribal eyes, insisting that the fight was a free-for-all among miscreants.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin said, “The Lagos State Police Command hereby wish to inform the general public that there was no tribal clash or disturbance between any ethnic groups and others at Balogun Market today.

“There was an incident of a free-for-all fight between some hoodlums and miscreants in the Balogun Market in the early hours of today at around 11 am.

“During the fight, one Ebuka Adindu from Abia State stabbed one Sodiq Ibrahim from Kogi State to death, and the said Ebuka Adindu in turn stabbed himself on the shoulder and became unconscious. He is currently under arrest in the hospital, where he is being treated.

“Investigation into the matter will be concluded, and he will be prosecuted after he has been discharged from the hospital. There was no loss of innocent lives or injury to any person or damage to the goods and properties of marketers inside Balogun Market.”

Normalcy has been restored, and residents and traders told to continue their activities without fear.