At least six people have been killed in separate incidents across the Ikorodu area of Lagos State, in what residents and authorities fear may be linked to renewed cult-related violence.
On Tuesday, a man was gruesomely murdered in Bayeku, with his wrist and leg severed. Less than 24 hours later, five corpses were discovered along the riverbank in the Oreta area of Igbogbo.
Community sources gave conflicting accounts. While some residents insisted the Bayeku killing was linked to land disputes, others pointed to cult clashes. “The person who died is not a known cultist. Many in the community think it is connected to land grabbing. They killed the man and severed his hands and legs,” a resident told PUNCH Metro.
Another witness, Adeola, said police operatives were seen at the Oreta scene, where five unidentified bodies were recovered. “Some people are saying it was the river that brought the five bodies to the riverbank. We don’t believe the water brought them. The cause of death is still unknown,” he said.
Graphic footage shared by Naija Confra, a channel that monitors cult activities, showed some of the bodies lying by the riverside.
Confirming the incidents, the Executive Chairman of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hammed Aroyewun, condemned the killings as “painful, unacceptable, and a direct affront to the peace of Baiyeku.” He assured residents that security agencies were working to apprehend those responsible.
“Our people deserve to live in peace and without fear. This administration will continue to deploy every necessary resource, in close partnership with security agencies, to guarantee safety and restore lasting peace,” Aroyewun said in a statement.
The tragedy comes amid a surge in cult-related clashes across Lagos, including a recent confrontation on Lagos Island that left three suspected cultists dead during a festival.
As of press time, efforts to reach the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful.
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