A man armed with a machete and a knife attacked a cinema in Lekki, Lagos State, on Friday night, resulting in the deaths of two people. The incident occurred when the suspect attempted to force his way into the entertainment complex but was stopped by security personnel at the entrance.
Attack Details and Casualties
Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, SP Adebisi Abimbola, confirmed the incident on Saturday. According to Abimbola, when guards refused the man entry, he turned violent and stabbed one security officer to death. A second security officer sustained injuries during the attack. The identities of the deceased have not been released, and the condition of the injured guard had not been officially confirmed as of the time of reporting.
Eyewitnesses at the scene reported that the attacker became aggressive the moment security personnel blocked his entry. The motive for his attempt to gain access to the premises remains unclear. However, the police spokesperson noted that the suspect appeared to be destitute and was suspected to have been under the influence of drugs at the time.
Mob Action and Suspect's Death
After the attack, a mob descended on the suspect, and he died as a result of the mob action. This brought the total number of deaths in the incident to two—the security guard and the attacker.
The attack triggered panic among patrons and workers at the cinema, which is located in the Lekki area of Lagos, a bustling commercial and residential district.
Police Investigation Underway
SP Adebisi Abimbola stated that the Chief Security Officer of the cinema has been taken into custody to assist with the investigation. Detectives are working to obtain and review closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the facility to reconstruct the sequence of events and determine whether any other individuals were involved in the incident.
The Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that a full investigation is ongoing. The police have not yet released further details about the suspect's background or any potential charges related to the incident.
