Residents of Olateju Street in Lekki Phase One, Lagos, were thrown into panic after three men were found dead in their apartment in the early hours of Sunday, August 31, 2025. The victims, said to be casual workers, were brutally murdered in what locals fear may be linked to cult clashes or personal disputes.
The victims, whose identities have not yet been confirmed by the authorities, reportedly lived together in a makeshift room built on the premises of a building on the street. They were well known in the area as daily labourers, often hired for menial jobs and errands within the neighbourhood.
According to residents, the men were attacked while they slept. Sources said that unidentified assailants stormed the room, dragged the victims outside, and hacked them to death with machetes.
A resident who spoke under condition of anonymity said, “The boys lived in a makeshift structure in the compound. They used to do odd jobs and help people in the area. But early Sunday morning, someone raised an alarm that the boys had been attacked. When we got there, we saw them lying in their own blood with machete cuts all over their bodies.”
He added that the attackers appeared to have targeted the victims specifically, as there was no sign of robbery or forced entry into other parts of the compound.
Another resident said the police were quickly alerted after the bodies were discovered. “People are now more cautious. We’ve started stepping up security around here because this kind of thing has never happened on this street before,” the resident said.
As of press time, the Lagos State Police Command had not released an official statement on the killings. However, sources in the community suggested that the deaths may be connected to a cult-related conflict or unresolved dispute involving the deceased.
The gruesome nature of the killings has left residents shaken, especially considering the quiet reputation of the area. Locals are now calling on law enforcement agencies to increase patrols and speed up investigations to bring the killers to justice.
“This is not the kind of thing you expect in Lekki,” another resident said. “We need to know what really happened and who is behind it. The fact that these men were dragged out and slaughtered in cold blood is terrifying.”
The bodies of the victims have been taken away by authorities, and investigations are ongoing.