MACHETE ATTACK AT LEKKI CINEMA LEAVES TWO DEAD AS POLICE LAUNCH PROBE

Two people have died following a violent incident at Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, after a yet-to-be-identified man reportedly attacked security personnel at the facility.

The incident occurred on Friday evening when the man, who police said appeared to be destitute and was suspected to be under the influence of drugs, allegedly attempted to force his way into the cinema.

The man was reportedly carrying a machete and became involved in a confrontation with security personnel who prevented him from entering the premises. The altercation later escalated into a violent attack.

An eyewitness said the suspect raised an alarm outside the cinema before attacking one of the security guards. Other people at the scene reportedly intervened and restrained him, although the circumstances surrounding what happened afterwards remain under investigation.

Another eyewitness, identified as Buchi Laba on X, said he had gone to watch Odyssey at the cinema and encountered a chaotic scene after the movie ended. He said there was a large crowd outside and blood was visible around the area.

According to Laba, two security personnel had been stabbed, with one reportedly suffering injuries to the chest and another to the back. He said he used his vehicle to assist in taking the injured men to hospital, where one of them later died.

The Lagos State Police Command subsequently confirmed that two people had died in connection with the incident.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Adebisi Abimbola, said the suspect allegedly stabbed one security guard to death and injured another security personnel before he was reportedly mobbed and died during the ensuing chaos.

Police said the identities of the deceased and the full circumstances surrounding the incident were still being established.

The command is also investigating the events that led to the confrontation, including the circumstances surrounding the death of the suspected attacker.

The Chief Security Officer of the cinema was reportedly taken into custody as part of the investigation, while police officers are working to obtain and review CCTV recordings from the premises.

Authorities hope the footage will help investigators establish exactly what happened during the confrontation and determine whether other individuals were involved.

The incident has generated concern among residents and cinema patrons, particularly because it occurred at a popular entertainment facility in Lekki.

Police have continued their investigation as efforts are made to establish the motive behind the attack and provide a clearer account of the events that resulted in the deaths.

The authorities have also appealed for useful information from witnesses that could assist in the ongoing investigation.