At least 5 people have been killed in separate attacks in the Ikorodu area of Lagos state.
Five bodies were discovered along the Oreta riverbank in the Igbogbo community on Wednesday, while another person was gruesomely murdered in Bayeku on Tuesday.
Residents told reporters that the Bayeku victim had his wrist and leg severed before his death. While police are yet to confirm the motive, community members believe the incident may be linked either to cult violence or land disputes.
One resident, who asked not to be named, said: “The person killed in Bayeku was not a known cultist. Many people think it has to do with land grabbing. They cut off his hands and legs.”
Another witness, Adeola, said police operatives visited Oreta after the corpses were found.
“Some people said the river brought the bodies, but we don’t believe that. Five bodies were recovered and the cause of death is still unknown,” Adeola explained.
A short video posted by Naija Confra, a channel that documents cult-related activities, showed some of the corpses by the riverside including one in a blue hoodie lying facedown and another in a black-and-white shirt with visible bloodstains.
Council reacts
Hammed Aroyewun, chairman of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, confirmed the killings in a statement issued by his chief press secretary, Oluwaseun Ajayi.
Aroyewun, who visited the scenes with security officials, condemned the attacks as “painful, unacceptable, and a direct affront to peace”.
He assured residents that the local administration, working with the police and other agencies, would pursue the perpetrators and restore calm.
“Our people deserve to live in peace and without fear,” he said. “We will continue to deploy every necessary resource, in partnership with security agencies, to guarantee safety and restore lasting peace.”
