LAGOS, Nigeria — A dispute over a parcel of land within the Balogun Business Association Market at the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex turned deadly on Sunday, May 3, 2026, leaving one person dead and three others injured, according to officials involved in the incident.
According to reports, the violence occurred in an area said to be the subject of a disagreement involving the Balogun Business Association and Mega Rickon Resources Limited.
According to accounts provided by the Trade Fair Security Task Force, the confrontation began after officers attempted to enforce a stop-work order issued by the management of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex against construction activities on the site.
Alhaji Ismaila Bakare, chairman of the task force, said his team encountered workers engaged in the construction of attachment shops and ordered them to halt the project.
“Upon our arrival, we discovered workers fabricating and erecting attachment shops. We stopped the work, seized some equipment, including a generator, and ordered those present to leave,” Bakare said.
He alleged that work later resumed after the officers departed and that those involved moved further into a green area adjoining the disputed property.
Confrontation Escalates
Bakare said task force personnel returned to the site to enforce the directive but were met by individuals armed with axes, clubs and machetes.
According to him, members of the task force came under attack while attempting to withdraw from the area, after which gunshots were fired.
One task force official, identified as Kabiru Jakpata, was killed, while three others sustained injuries, Bakare said.
He identified the alleged gunman as Afam Ezeakire, popularly known as “Master,” and said the matter had been reported to the police.
Bakare expressed concern that the suspect had not been arrested at the time of his statement.
Unconfirmed reports, however, indicated that Ezeakire later surrendered to officers attached to Police Tactical Team One after reportedly evading attempts by vigilantes to apprehend him in Awka-Etiti, Anambra State.
Investigation Underway
The task force chairman described Jakpata as the only son of his parents and said he was survived by his wife and eight children.
Bakare appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, civil society organisations and human rights groups to support efforts aimed at ensuring a full investigation into the incident.
Following the clash, management of the Lagos International Trade Fair Complex reportedly sealed the section where the violence occurred.
Officials said Chief Mrs Veronica Ndanusa, Executive Director of the complex, had contacted the Lagos State Commissioner of Police regarding the incident.
Police investigators have since invited several individuals connected to the dispute, including Chief John Nzeako, a director of Mega Rickon Resources Limited.
As of the time of reporting, police authorities had not publicly released the findings of their investigation, and no formal charges had been announced.