Fresh details have emerged on the violent clash that claimed the life of a trader, Sodiq Ibrahim, in the Mandillas area of Lagos Island on Wednesday.

Findings by our correspondent revealed that Ibrahim was allegedly stabbed to death by his colleague, Ebuka Adindu, during a dispute over the sharing of ₦8,000 commission.

The incident briefly disrupted commercial activities at the bustling Balogun Market, as many shops hurriedly shut their doors before business activities resumed on Thursday.

Although social media was awash with claims of ethnic tension, the Lagos State Police Command dismissed such reports.

Police spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed the incident, saying:

“During the fight, one Ebuka Adindu from Abia State stabbed one Sodiq Ibrahim from Kogi State to death. The said Adindu in turn stabbed himself on the shoulder and became unconscious. He is currently under arrest in the hospital, where he is receiving treatment. Investigation will be concluded and he will be prosecuted after discharge.”

Further checks revealed that both men were members of a group known as Oso Ahia, loosely translated from Igbo as market hustlers, who bring customers to shops in exchange for a commission.

Trouble reportedly started when a shop owner handed them ₦8,000 to share. Disagreement over how to split the money quickly escalated into a fight.

A trader, Funmi Arewa, explained:

“It was just two hustlers who usually bring customers to shop owners for commission. Both of them happened to bring the same customer, and the shop owner gave them ₦8,000 to share. That’s where the problem started. They began arguing over how to split the money, and in the middle of the fight, one stabbed the other. He probably didn’t mean to kill him, but sadly, the boy bled to death.”

Another trader, Moshood, dismissed speculations of tribal rivalry.

“The fight started and ended with the Oso Ahia boys over sharing of the commission. Some traders have now decided they should no longer be allowed in this market. As you can see, everything is back to normal. There’s no tribal issue here—it was just money.”

Abiola Shittu, another shop owner, added that the brief closure of shops on Thursday morning was due to the routine sanitation exercise, not the clash.

“The commission caused the argument, and they started stabbing themselves. Sadly, the Yoruba boy died from the wound,” he said.

A trader who identified himself simply as Chigozie gave further details, claiming Ibrahim had first attacked Adindu.

“The deceased stabbed the guy first with a bottle and ran away thinking he couldn’t catch him. The guy immediately pursued him with a knife and did the same, which led to his death,” he recounted.

Market leaders told our correspondent that Wednesday’s tragedy was the first violent incident recorded in years within the Mandillas section of Balogun Market.