Passenger Killed in Lagos Motor Park Fight Between Agberos and Monarch Supporters

 
What began as a local development initiative in Alaba Rago, Iba area of Lagos State, quickly spiraled into chaos over the weekend. A violent confrontation broke out on Sunday between road transport workers—commonly known as agberos—and supporters of a traditional ruler, leaving one person dead and the community on edge.

According to multiple eyewitnesses, the incident was sparked by the unveiling of a new motor park reportedly built by the monarch for vehicles traveling to Nigeria’s northern and eastern regions. While this might have seemed like a welcome move to ease transport congestion and provide structure, it instead ignited longstanding tensions over territorial control and levy collection.

“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 weren’t comfortable with it. The CP was even there. There was a tussle between the monarch and the agberos, and that’s what led to the fiasco.”

The agberos, known for managing motor parks and collecting daily dues from commercial drivers, allegedly viewed the monarch’s park as a direct threat to their influence—and more importantly, to their income.

By Sunday morning, tensions had erupted into full-blown violence. Tragically, a yet-to-be-identified passenger lost his life after being struck by a speeding vehicle amid the unrest. Heart-wrenching footage shared by witnesses captured the moment residents gathered around the victim, covering the lifeless body with a wrapper to protect the scene from further disturbance.

The Lagos State Police Command swiftly stepped in. Command spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed that the Commissioner of Police had visited the scene personally and convened a meeting with all parties involved to de-escalate the situation and seek a long-term resolution.

“The CP was personally on the ground yesterday for an on-the-spot assessment,” Hundeyin said. “He also met with all parties today at the command headquarters in Ikeja to find a lasting solution to the problem.”

This latest clash adds to a troubling pattern of violence involving transport unions and local authorities across Lagos. With control of parks and levies often at the heart of these disputes, communities are frequently caught in the crossfire, bearing the cost of a broken system that desperately needs reform.

As Alaba Rago tries to return to normal, residents and commuters are left grappling with the aftermath—and wondering when peace and structure will finally come to Lagos’ volatile transport sector.