Tragedy struck on Wednesday night in the Mowo area along the Badagry Expressway, Lagos State, as a popular shawarma vendor identified simply as Afeez was gunned down by unknown assailants suspected to be cultists.
Eyewitnesses disclosed that the incident occurred around the MTN Bus Stop in Mowo, throwing the usually busy area into chaos. The assailants were said to have stormed the victim’s shop and shot him at close range before fleeing the scene.
“The man was just at his shop when they came and opened fire on him,” a resident, who pleaded anonymity due to security concerns, recounted. “He died instantly. Nobody knows exactly what happened, but people are saying it may be related to cult issues.”
An anti-cultism advocacy group, NaijaConfra, also confirmed the killing on its Facebook page, alleging that the victim was attacked by suspected members of the Eiye confraternity. The group further suggested that the killing might have stemmed from a personal dispute.
“Some residents alleged that one of the cult members accused Afeez of having an affair with his wife, while others claimed it might have been a business-related misunderstanding after he bought a new Toyota Avalon,” the group stated.
When contacted, the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, SP Abimbola Adebisi, confirmed the incident, noting that investigations were ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the murder.
“According to preliminary reports, the victim was struck from behind by an unidentified assailant,” Adebisi said. “At this stage, we cannot confirm any link to cult groups, but investigations are in progress.”
Residents of Mowo have since expressed fear over the rising wave of cult-related killings in the Badagry axis, urging security agencies to intensify patrols and restore public confidence.
This latest incident adds to the growing list of cult-linked attacks that have claimed several lives across Lagos State in recent months. In May, suspected cultists reportedly hacked a 28-year-old man, Olanrewaju Ogunyemi, to death in Ilasamaja. Similarly, rival groups clashed in September in Ibeju-Lekki, leaving two people dead.
The Lagos Police Command has repeatedly assured the public of its commitment to curbing cult-related violence through sustained raids, intelligence gathering, and community engagement.
Meanwhile, Afeez’s death has left the Mowo community in mourning, with residents describing him as a peaceful and hardworking man who was only focused on his business.
“He was just trying to earn a living. It’s heartbreaking that his life was cut short this way,” another resident lamented.
