Machete-wielding man attacks Lekki cinema, two feared dead
Two people are feared dead after a machete-wielding man attacked a security officer and another individual at the car park of Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX in Lekki, Lagos.
The incident reportedly occurred in the early hours of Saturday, shortly after moviegoers had left the cinema.
Filmhouse Group confirmed the attack in a statement issued later in the day, describing it as a security incident that occurred outside the cinema premises.
According to reports, the attacker, who was armed with a machete, allegedly confronted the victims at the car park. The two individuals reportedly resisted him and prevented him from gaining access to the cinema facility.
An eyewitness, sports journalist Buchi Laba, recounted the incident in a post on X, saying he was at the cinema to watch Odyssey, which began around 10 pm and ended at about 2 am.
Laba claimed that one of the victims sustained a stab wound to the chest while the other was stabbed in the back. He further alleged that one of them died while being taken to a hospital.
“I was there!! One of the worst experience of my life,” Laba wrote while recounting what happened after the movie.
The exact circumstances surrounding the attack, including the motive of the assailant and the confirmed number of casualties, remain unclear.
Filmhouse said it was cooperating with the relevant authorities, who are investigating the incident.
“Filmhouse Group is deeply saddened by a security incident that took place outside the premises, in the car park of one of our locations, in the early hours of this morning,” the company said.
The cinema operator said the incident was unrelated to its regular operations and disclosed that additional security measures had been introduced across its locations.
Filmhouse also commended the two individuals involved in the confrontation with the attacker, saying their actions helped prevent further danger and restore safety.
“Both individuals stood between danger and the people in their care, and it is through their bravery that the situation was contained and safety restored,” the company said.
The organisation added that the safety of its staff and customers remained a priority and that it would continue monitoring developments as the investigation progresses.
