Four men have been confirmed dead after a disagreement escalated into communal unrest at Power Line Bus Stop, Ikola, in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos State.

The violence, which occurred on Thursday, also left several people injured and destroyed a number of makeshift structures in the area.

According to residents, the unrest reportedly began after an altercation between a northerner and a man said to be a former cult leader. The disagreement allegedly turned violent, prompting security operatives from the Meiran Police Division to call for reinforcements.

Confirming the incident, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu, said the agency received a distress call at about 1:52 p.m. over a fire outbreak linked to the violence.

“Preliminary assessment and engagement with residents at the scene indicate that the incident followed a disagreement that escalated into communal unrest. Regrettably, four adult males lost their lives and several others sustained various degrees of injuries,” he said.

Oke-Osanyintolu said emergency responders provided medical assistance to the injured, while the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service extinguished the fire and carried out damping operations to prevent it from spreading.

He added that a joint security operation involving the Nigeria Police Force, the Nigerian Army, the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, and the Lagos Neighbourhood Safety Corps was launched to restore order and secure the community.

The Chairman of Agbado Oke-Odo Local Council Development Area also visited the scene to coordinate efforts with community leaders.

LASEMA said normalcy has been restored in Ikola and surrounding communities, although security personnel remain on the ground to prevent further violence.

The agency urged residents to remain calm, avoid reprisals and refrain from spreading unverified information, adding that investigations are underway to determine the immediate and remote causes of the unrest and ensure those responsible are prosecuted.