At least four persons are feared dead following separate cult-related clashes that erupted in different parts of Lagos State over the past week.
It was gathered from videos and photographs circulating after the violence that the incidents occurred between Wednesday and Monday in several communities, including Iyana-Ipaja and Aboru in Alimosho Local Government Area; Badore and Olokonla in Ajah, Eti-Osa Local Government Area; as well as Onipanu near Fadeyi and Satellite Town.
In Badore, one person identified simply as Chidera was reportedly killed on Friday during a clash involving suspected members of the Eiye confraternity and a rival group.
Meanwhile, graphic videos seen on Monday on Naija Confra, an anti-cultism platform, showed at least three persons with severe injuries in Iyana-Ipaja and Aboru.
The victims were seen with deep cuts to their heads and shoulders, with blood gushing from the wounds. One of the injured persons was captured pressing what appeared to be a blood-soaked cloth against a severe head injury.
Although it could not be independently confirmed whether the injuries were directly linked to cult clashes, other individuals in the videos—whose faces were blurred to conceal their identities—were also seen nursing serious wounds.
Similarly, violent clashes were reported in the Onipanu area near Fadeyi, where a man identified simply as Israel was shot dead. The suspected assailant reportedly filmed the killing.
In a video obtained from Naija Confra on Monday, the victim was seen wearing a light blue top and trousers, with a black bag strapped across his neck and waist. Despite appearing to move after sustaining a gunshot wound to the head, the attackers were seen firing several more shots at him until he became motionless in another clip from the same incident.
At Satellite Town, a man was also found dead at the NEPA Junction last Wednesday, although it remains unclear whether the killing was linked to cult violence.
While official confirmation was being awaited from the Lagos State Police Command on the earlier incidents, we received another tip-off that a man was killed on Monday morning at Baba Adisa Bus Stop, Ibeju-Lekki.
The victim, identified only as Alabama, was found lying motionless on the pavement, wearing a black shirt and a ring on his left ear.
As of press time, the police command had yet to respond officially to the reported killing in Ibeju-Lekki.
However, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Mrs Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the killing at Satellite Town, describing it as a suspected murder.
In a text message gotten on Tuesday, Adebisi said, “The receipt of these incidents from you yesterday prompted me to reach out to all the DPOs in charge of the locations you mentioned. None confirmed the incidents, except the one at Satellite Town, which was confirmed as a suspected murder.
“The case is under investigation and will be transferred to the SCID, Panti, as soon as possible.”
The police command has continued to battle attacks and reprisals linked to violent crimes across the state. Last year, no fewer than 10 persons were killed within 10 days in incidents related to cult violence in Lagos.
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