Panic gripped residents of Lakowe community, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State, after a popular skit maker and hairstylist, identified simply as Austin, was gruesomely murdered with machetes by suspected cultists.
The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Thursday, August 14, threw the neighbourhood into fear.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers stormed the community, located the victim’s residence, dragged him out of his room, and killed him on the spot.
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons, recounted:
“There was some sort of commotion early Thursday morning, but no one knew what it was. It wasn’t until later in the morning that we were told someone’s corpse was lying somewhere around the community. When we got there, we discovered that it was Austin’s corpse. We also saw his hand severed. That was when we realised it was connected to the noise we heard early in the morning.”
Another resident revealed that Austin appeared to have anticipated his death, pointing to a cryptic message he reportedly posted on his WhatsApp status a day before the attack.
“Austin was a popular hairstylist and very good at it. He was also a skit maker and had some entertainers as friends. Those close to him said he knew he was going to die due to a post on his WhatsApp status the day before.”
In a video obtained, the lifeless body of the victim was seen lying on the floor, surrounded by shocked sympathisers.
Efforts to reach the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful as calls to his phone were not answered, and a text message sent had yet to be replied to at the time of filing this report.
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