…Police detain cinema’s chief security officer, probe incident
Two persons have been confirmed dead following a bloody attack at the Filmhouse IMAX Cinema in Lekki, Lagos, where a yet-to-be-identified man allegedly stabbed security personnel during a violent confrontation.
The Lagos State Police Command said one of the cinema’s security guards was stabbed to death by the attacker, while another was injured before the suspect was allegedly mobbed to death.
The incident occurred late Friday at the cinema located in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, causing panic among moviegoers who had just finished watching a late-night movie.
The suspect was reportedly believed to be under the influence of drugs and allegedly attempted to force his way into the cinema before being resisted by security personnel.
An eyewitness, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the confrontation quickly degenerated into violence.
“We were watching Odyssey when it happened. He was armed with a machete and was raising an alarm outside the cinema house. I was initially afraid because I thought armed robbers were robbing someone outside.
“I think the man wanted to barge in, but the security man didn’t allow him, and it deteriorated into a fight. He attacked the security man,” the witness said.
The source said people later intervened and restrained the attacker but left the premises as the situation became chaotic.
“I later heard that two people were dead. It was shocking,” the eyewitness added.
Another eyewitness, Buchi Laba, who shared his experience on X, described the incident as one of the most traumatic experiences of his life.
According to him, a huge crowd had gathered outside the cinema, with blood splattered around the area after the movie ended in the early hours of Saturday.
Laba said the attacker stabbed two security personnel, one in the chest and another in the back.
He said he used his vehicle to rush the injured men to a hospital, where one of them was later confirmed dead.
“I went to watch Odyssey at IMAX Filmhouse Cinema, Lekki. Immediately I came out, there was a huge crowd outside with blood everywhere.
“A guy came into the place and stabbed two security men. One in the chest and the other in the back. It was crazy,” he said.
Confirming the incident, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Adebisi Abimbola, said two persons had been confirmed dead.
She said the suspect allegedly stabbed one of the security guards to death and injured another before he was mobbed.
Abimbola said the identities of those involved and the circumstances surrounding the incident were still being investigated.
She added that the suspect appeared to be a destitute and was suspected to have been under the influence of drugs at the time of the attack.
The police spokesperson also disclosed that the Chief Security Officer of the cinema had been taken into custody as part of the investigation.
According to her, detectives were working to obtain and review CCTV footage from the premises to establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether other persons were involved.
The incident has raised concerns over security at entertainment centres and the need for improved safety measures to protect visitors and workers.
