Two persons have been confirmed dead after a machete-wielding man stormed IMAX Cinemas in Lekki, Lagos State, on Friday night.
The incident, which sent cinema-goers and workers fleeing in panic, occurred when the suspect, said to be brandishing a machete and a knife, allegedly tried to force his way into the premises but was stopped by security guards.
Eyewitnesses recounted that the man, who appeared to be under the influence of hard drugs and looked like a destitute, became violent the moment security personnel blocked his entry.
Confirming the tragedy, spokesperson of the Lagos State Police Command, SP Adebisi Abimbola, said the suspect allegedly stabbed one of the security guards to death and also wounded another security operative during the confrontation.
The police spokesperson added that the attacker was subsequently set upon by a mob and died in the process.
“Two people have been confirmed dead,” Adebisi stated, noting that the full circumstances surrounding the incident are still under investigation.
She disclosed that the identity of the deceased assailant and the exact sequence of events that led to his death form part of the issues the police are probing.
Adebisi further revealed that the Chief Security Officer of the cinema has been taken into custody as investigations continue. Police are also working to retrieve and review closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the premises to establish what exactly transpired and to identify any other persons who may have been involved.
The incident has once again raised serious concerns about security arrangements at entertainment and recreational centres in Lagos, especially the capacity of security personnel to detect and prevent dangerous elements from accessing crowded public places.
As at the time of filing this report, the police had not released the identities of the deceased or given further updates on the condition of the injured security guard.
Investigations into the matter remain ongoing.
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