Two individuals, including a popular shawarma vendor and a teenage boy, have been killed in separate suspected cult-related attacks in Lagos State, sparking fear and renewed concerns over escalating violence in the area.
In Ikorodu, gunmen suspected to be members of a rival cult group shot and killed a well-known food vendor, identified simply as Benjamin, popularly known as “Benji,” on Tuesday around 8:30 p.m. The incident occurred at his roadside stall near Ebutte-Ipakodo while he was attending to customers.
Eyewitnesses said two men approached the stall, initially appearing to be customers, before suddenly pulling out firearms and shooting Benjamin multiple times at close range.
“One minute they were standing in front of him, and the next thing, shots rang out. Everyone fled in panic. We later found out it was a revenge attack by a rival cult group,” a resident identified as Samson said.
Another local resident, who asked not to be named due to the sensitivity of the incident, confirmed that the assailants fled immediately after the shooting. Benjamin was left lying in a pool of blood for several minutes before he was rushed to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
“He was shot so brutally that people were afraid to go near him at first. It was a very traumatic scene,” the resident added.
Social media tributes poured in for Benjamin, with many describing him as jovial, hardworking, and well-loved in the community. His death has left residents in shock and has heightened anxiety in the Ikorodu area.
Meanwhile, in another tragic development, a 16-year-old boy identified simply as Mustapha was killed by a stray bullet during a peace walk aimed at addressing cult-related violence in the Oyingbo area of Ebute Metta.
The incident occurred on Monday, April 21, shortly after the peace walk ended. According to sources, an argument broke out among some of the participants, escalating into violence when a suspected cultist pulled out a firearm and began shooting indiscriminately. Mustapha was hit by a stray bullet and died on the spot.
Efforts to get a response from Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful.
These incidents add to a growing list of cult-related killings in Lagos, bringing to the fore the urgent need for stronger security measures and community-based interventions to tackle youth gang violence.