A female cinemagoer has recounted her terrifying experience during the violent attack at Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX in Lekki, Lagos, where two people were reportedly killed.
The incident occurred around 1am on Saturday when two armed men allegedly blocked the cinema’s exit, leaving moviegoers trapped inside the premises for about an hour.
The woman, in a video that has gone viral, said terrified patrons hid in bathrooms as the attackers moved around the premises wielding weapons and attacking people.
According to her, one man was stabbed in the chest and efforts to get him to a hospital were delayed for nearly 35 minutes because it took time to find a vehicle to transport him.
She alleged that the victim eventually died after passers-by removed the knife from his chest, apparently believing it would help him, causing severe bleeding.
“No emergency exit. No emergency services. No law enforcement to come to our rescue,” she said, while lamenting the lack of preparedness to handle serious injuries at the facility.
The woman also claimed that when the attacker was eventually apprehended, he allegedly told those who caught him that the man who was stabbed was his intended target.
Filmhouse has expressed sadness over the incident and said an investigation is ongoing. The company also commended those who acted bravely during the attack and helped restore safety at the premises.