A fresh wave of violence has hit Lagos Island following the fatal shooting of a man, identified only as Pedro, by suspected cultists in the Idumota area on Tuesday.
Security sources told PUNCH Metro that the assailants stormed the scene on a motorcycle and opened fire on the victim at close range before speeding off.
Findings revealed that Pedro had just parted ways with friends and was heading to his sister’s residence when he was attacked.
A source within the police, who is familiar with the development, disclosed that the gunmen struck shortly after trailing the victim.
“The information we have is that the victim had left his friends and was on his way to see his sister in the evening.
Two men on a motorcycle suddenly appeared and shot him at close range. He died immediately,” the source said.
Police operatives were said to have responded swiftly to the incident, evacuating the remains to a morgue.
Further checks indicate that the killing may be tied to a resurgence of cult-related clashes in the Lagos Island area.
Another security source noted that rival cult groups have been engaging in retaliatory attacks, resulting in a series of violent encounters in recent days.
“There has been a pattern of reprisal attacks among rival cult factions, and this incident is believed to be connected to that ongoing rivalry,” the source added.
Attempts to obtain an official response from the Lagos State Police Command were unsuccessful, as the Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, could not be reached on her phone, while a message sent to her had yet to receive a reply as of press time.
The incident adds to growing fears over escalating cult violence in the area.
Only days earlier, three men were reportedly killed in Epetedo by suspected cultists while returning from a birthday celebration in the early hours of April 2.
The victims, who were said to have attended a social gathering with a friend, were ambushed on their way home, in what residents described as a continuation of deadly cult-related attacks in the community.
