Tensions flared on Sunday in the Alaba Rago area of Iba, Lagos State, after a violent altercation broke out between road transport workers, commonly known as agberos, and supporters of a local traditional ruler.

The disturbance, which began early Sunday morning, tragically resulted in the death of an unidentified passenger who was struck by a speeding vehicle during the chaos.

Eyewitnesses reported that the conflict was sparked by the recent opening of a newly constructed motor park, allegedly set up by the monarch to serve vehicles traveling to Nigeria's northern and eastern regions.

"A new park was introduced on the Alaba Market side of the road. It was launched on Saturday for interstate vehicles," a resident named Shola said. "But the local transport workers were unhappy about it. Even the Commissioner of Police visited the area. The disagreement over control of the park is what escalated things."

Locals claim that the agberos saw the new motor park as a challenge to their authority and a threat to their income from levies collected from drivers.

The situation worsened on Sunday morning when the monarch’s supporters and the agberos clashed violently.

"During the fighting, a passenger tried to cross the road near the new park and was hit and killed instantly by a speeding vehicle," said another resident, Abbey.

Videos captured at the scene show a large crowd gathering around the victim’s body, which lay in a pool of blood. In one clip, residents are seen covering the body with a wrapper to block the view from passersby.

In response to the incident, the Lagos State Police Command confirmed that efforts were underway to restore peace. The Commissioner of Police personally visited the area for an on-the-spot assessment and later met with both parties at the command headquarters in Ikeja to work toward a resolution.

This tragic event adds to a series of recent clashes involving transport workers and union factions in Lagos and neighboring states. A similar conflict in late 2023 between commercial motorcyclists and agberos in the Akute and Alagbole areas of Ogun State reportedly led to multiple deaths.