Cultists on Saturday shot dead a yet-to-be-identified father of a bride and a hypeman, identified simply as Victor, on Governor’s Road in the Ikotun area of Lagos State.
Chronicle NG gathered that the incident occurred on Oviawe Street in the community shortly after a wedding ceremony had been concluded and guests had moved to an after-party.
According to reports, the cultists rushed the facility while the celebration was still in progress, forcing people to flee for safety.
According to a local named Tosin, Victor was entertaining guests when the cultists struck.
He said, “They were holding an after-party after the wedding ceremony was held at an event center on Governor’s Road. It was during the celebration that the gunmen entered their midst and opened fire indiscriminately.
“This made everyone present run for their lives. They then went straight to Victor, dragged him outside onto the street, and started hitting him with dangerous weapons.”
Another resident, who did not want to be identified due to the sensitivity of the situation, stated that the bride’s father, who was uncomfortable with the attack, decided to intervene and was shot in the process.
“When the gunmen were beating Victor, the bride’s father rushed to the spot to intervene and plead for him. It was in the process that the gunmen shot both of them. They died on the spot.”
It was revealed that the incident threw the community into confusion, as residents and business owners rushed indoors.
The source also revealed that the attack might not have been directly connected to the wedding but could be linked to ongoing rival cult clashes in the community.
“This area has been experiencing cult-related issues for some time. It is possible that the attackers were trailing someone or targeting a rival, but innocent people ended up as victims,” the source added.
Speaking about one of the victims, a resident who preferred to be called Steve said Victor was a known person in the community.
“I was inside when my wife told me that something had happened outside. When I got outside, I was told Victor was involved in the incident. It was later that I realized that he was someone I usually see on our street. He has a small stature.”
When contacted on Monday, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command confirmed the incident.
“The matter is being investigated; it will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, today unfailingly,” she said.
