A member of Musiliu Akinsanya, a Parks Management Committee headed by MC Oluomo was on Sunday allegedly attacked by suspected cultists in Owode area of Mile 12, Lagos State, who cut him to death.
Onaopemipo Lawal, who was also widely known as Ariku, was killed while riding a motorcycle when three alleged cult members intercepted the vehicle and attacked him.
The attackers could be seen pounding him until he appeared lifeless. In the attack video, the alleged cultists used dangerous objects like scissors, rods, and knives. According to reports, they also shot him and left him to die in a puddle of his own blood.
According to eyewitness accounts, two other gang members were on the alert for potential intruders while Ariku was being attacked. Members of Ariku’s group at Mile 12 hurried to the site as soon as they learned of the incident and transported him to the hospital, where it was concluded that he had sadly died.
His passing provoked outrage among his grieving friends, who flocked to the streets to demonstrate. This spread panic around Mile 12 as text messages informing Lagosians of the tragedy and advising them to stay away from Mile 12 went viral.
When contacted, Buhari Jimoh, the media assistant to Akinsaya, acknowledged that late Lawal was a member of the group and said that he might have been murdered by people who thought he was always informing the police about their illicit activities.
SP Benjamin Hudenyin, the public relations officer for the Lagos State Officers, claimed that police were stationed in the area to prevent any potential breach of law and order.
Some police patrol cars were positioned at key locations throughout the area as of 7:30 p.m On Sunday.
The tragic incident had plunged residents into fear forcing them to keep their eyes peeled at all times and often glancing over their shoulders.
