A 16-year-old boy, identified simply as Mustapha, lost his life on Monday after being struck by a stray bullet during a suspected cult-related clash in the Oyingbo area of Ebute Metta, Lagos State.
According to Punch, the tragic incident occurred shortly after a peace walk aimed at tackling cult-related violence in the area.
The event, which was organised by local youths, had just ended when a dispute reportedly broke out among some participants.
A resident, who requested anonymity, said the altercation escalated when a suspected cultist pulled out a gun and began firing indiscriminately, resulting in Mustapha being hit by a stray bullet.
“Mustapha wasn’t a member of any gang,” the resident said. “He only came out to support the peace walk. He was a respectful and quiet boy. Sadly, he was shot and died while being rushed to the hospital.”
The shooting caused panic in the community and led to the abrupt end of the event.
One of the event organisers was also reportedly shot and is currently in critical condition.
Efforts to get a response from the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer were unsuccessful, as calls to his phone went unanswered, and a text message sent had not been replied to at the time of this report.
