A passenger was crushed to death in Lagos on Sunday during a violent fight between road transport workers, known as agberos, and supporters of a local monarch.
The clash happened in the Alaba Rago area of Iba, shortly after the monarch opened a new motor park for vehicles traveling to the North and East.
Eyewitnesses said the fight started because the agberos felt threatened by the new park, which could affect the way they collect levies from drivers.
“The monarch built a park at the Alaba Market side of the road. It was unveiled on Saturday for vehicles going to the North and East. But the road transport workers were not comfortable with the development,” said a resident named Shola.
Shola added that the Lagos State Commissioner of Police was present at the park’s opening, but tensions rose between the monarch’s camp and the agberos shortly after.
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On Sunday morning, the two groups began fighting. During the chaos, a passenger who tried to cross the road near the new park was hit and killed by a speeding vehicle.
“In the process of chasing themselves and fighting, a passenger was trying to cross the road when a speeding vehicle hit and killed the person on the spot,” another resident, Abbey, told PUNCH Metro.
Videos shared by witnesses showed a large crowd gathered at the scene. In one video, the victim’s body lay in a pool of blood. In another, people covered the body with a wrapper.
Lagos State Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed the incident and said the police were working to bring peace between both groups.
“The CP (Commissioner of Police) was personally on the ground yesterday for an on-the-spot assessment,” Hundeyin said.
“He also met with all parties today (Monday) at the command headquarters in Ikeja to find a lasting solution to the problem,” he added.
This incident is the latest in a series of violent clashes involving agberos and transport unions in Lagos and nearby states.