At least three people were brutally murdered during a violent cult clash that broke out at a masquerade festival on Sunday in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State.
Although the exact trigger remains unclear, reports suggest that the festival was hijacked by rival cult groups who turned the event into a bloody supremacy battle.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, said chaos erupted shortly after the festival ended.
“We had just finished the festival when a fight broke out among some boys suspected to be cultists. Before we knew it, bottles and dangerous weapons were flying everywhere. People could only run for safety,” the source recounted.
Videos obtained on Wednesday showed heavy gunfire and suspected cultists chasing one another along Lagos Street. In one clip, at least five gunshots rang out, while another showed about 10 assailants beating a victim.
Another resident, Kazeem, said the violence lasted several hours.
“The fight started in the evening and continued till midnight. Many of us could not sleep because of the noise, gunshots, and destruction,” he said.
Naija Confra, an online platform known for sharing cult-related activities, confirmed the unrest, stating that the violence had been ongoing since Sunday.
Police Response
Reacting to the clashes, the Lagos State Police Command announced tightened security across Lekki, Ajah, Ogombo, Elemoro, and surrounding areas.
In a statement signed by spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin, the command revealed the redeployment of divisional police officers and the deployment of the Eko Strike Force to restore calm and protect residents.
Hundeyin disclosed that the police had launched a discreet investigation into the killings, confirming that the incident was an inter-cult clash at Wole Olateju Street, Lekki Phase 1, which left three cultists dead.
He added that Commissioner of Police Olohundare Jimoh personally led a joint team of officers to the scene, while the Anti-Cultism and Tactical Teams carried out raids that resulted in multiple arrests.
According to the police, 23 suspects were apprehended during raids on various hideouts. Those arrested include Frank Okpara (27), Friday Ebuka (27), Babatunde Mufutau (24), Suleiman Muri (25), Olamide Malik (24), Nwaka Lucky (34), Raphael Ashim (30), Wasiu Kareem (33), Sadiq Olabisi (40), Ibrahim Abdul (22), Ibrahim Aminu (37), Nasiru Musa (27), Friday Nwafor (51), Ahmed Fatai (26), Aro Abiola a.k.a. Zino (25), Tijani Shehu a.k.a. Abana (26), Gift Igedi (31), Ugochukwu Chike (30), Ridwan Alex (37), Happiness Otigbo (27), Abiodun Adegun (37), Adedayo Adeoti (27), and Afeez Ahmed (31).