Tragedy struck in the Ikotun area of Lagos as a teenager from Delta State, identified simply as Chike, was shot dead by suspected cultists.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, has further heightened fears over recurring violent attacks in some parts of the state.
It was gathered that the victim, who was in Lagos to visit a friend, had gone to a Point-of-Sale outlet to withdraw cash when he and his companion were confronted by a group of young men.
An eyewitness, Abiodun, said the assailants briefly interacted with the duo before one of them suddenly opened fire on the teenager at close range.
“They had just finished withdrawing money when some boys approached them. After a brief exchange, one of them brought out a gun and shot him,” he said.
The attackers reportedly fled immediately after the shooting, leaving the victim lying motionless in a pool of blood. His friend, however, was not harmed.
The development caused panic in the area, with residents expressing shock over the brazen attack.
Meanwhile, an anti-cultism advocacy platform, in a statement on Monday, suggested that the killing was linked to cult activities, noting that the victim had reportedly tried to hand over his valuables to the attackers before he was shot.
The group disclosed that the deceased, also known as “Ejanla,” was based in Asaba and had travelled to Ikotun to see a friend.
It further alleged that the gunmen chanted slogans before and after carrying out the attack.
Efforts to get a response from the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, CSP Abimbola Adebisi, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages sent to her were not answered as of the time of filing this report.
The incident has once again drawn attention to concerns over cult-related violence in Lagos communities despite ongoing efforts by security agencies.
Recall that in December 2025, at least one person was killed during a clash between suspected rival cult groups in the Awoyaya area of the state.
