Three Killed as Cult Clashes Mar Masquerade Festival in Lagos Island

Three Killed as Cult Clashes Mar Masquerade Festival in Lagos Island
Residents fled as gunshots and chaos continued late into the night.
Police launched investigation, deployed anti-cult squads to restore peace.

At least three people have been confirmed dead following violent clashes during a masquerade festival in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State.

Eyewitnesses told reporters that the cultural celebration, held on Sunday, was hijacked by suspected cult members, sparking a bloody supremacy battle. The immediate cause of the killings, however, remains unclear.

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EKO HOT BLOG reports that videos circulating online showed suspected cultists firing gunshots along Lagos Street. In one clip, at least five gunshots could be heard, while another showed a group of armed assailants beating a victim.

“We had just finished the festival when a fight broke out among some boys suspected to be cultists. They started hurling bottles and brandishing weapons. Nobody could intervene, everyone simply ran for safety,” a resident said on condition of anonymity.

Another resident, identified as Kazeem, confirmed that the unrest stretched late into the night. “The fight started in the evening and continued until midnight. Many of us couldn’t sleep because of the noise and the destruction,” he recounted.

Social media platform Naija Confra, which tracks cult-related violence, also reported that gangs had hijacked the Lagos masquerade festival, turning it into an armed confrontation.

The Lagos State Police Command has reacted to the killings, assuring residents of heightened security across Lagos Island, Lekki, Ajah, Ogombo, Elemoro, and other surrounding areas.

Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed in a statement that a discreet investigation had commenced. He explained that Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, personally mobilised with joint police teams to the scene to ensure swift intervention.

“The Lagos State Police Command has commenced a discreet investigation into the unfortunate incident that occurred on Sunday in Lekki Phase 1, where a clash between rival cult groups resulted in three deaths. The Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, personally mobilised to the scene with joint police teams to ensure swift response,” Hundeyin stated.

He added that newly established anti-cultism and tactical squads under the Elemoro Area Command had been deployed to forestall further violence and restore peace in the affected areas.

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