Explosions heard all over Iran as US strikes ...... Welcome to Glintnews......
June 15, 2026
A wave of grief and outrage has swept through Oreta community in the Ikorodu area of Lagos State following a deadly attack by suspected cultists that left at least three people dead, including a 22-year-old trader and a physically challenged child, while several others narrowly escaped death.
The attack, which occurred on Wednesday night, has intensified concerns over the resurgence of cult-related violence and gang activities within parts of Lagos State, particularly in the Ikorodu axis, where residents have repeatedly called for stronger security measures and more effective law enforcement intervention.
According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers arrived in the community on motorcycles at about 8 p.m., armed with firearms and other dangerous weapons. Residents said the gunmen opened fire indiscriminately, creating chaos and forcing people to flee for safety as businesses abruptly shut down and families sought refuge indoors.
Among those killed was 22-year-old Abdulmalik Bakare, who was reportedly preparing to close his shop at the end of the day's business when he was caught in the hail of bullets unleashed by the attackers.
Residents described him as a hardworking young man whose life was tragically cut short by violence that many believe had little or nothing to do with the victims themselves.
The violence also claimed the life of a physically challenged child who was reportedly eating at the time the gunmen invaded the community. Another victim, said to be a customer who had visited the area to purchase fish, was also fatally shot during the attack.
The identities of some of the deceased victims had not been officially released as of the time of filing this report.
Speaking on the killing of his son, Tunde Bakare, father of the slain Abdulmalik Bakare, disclosed that six suspects had already been arrested by security operatives in connection with the incident.
He expressed hope that law enforcement authorities would ensure justice for the victims and their families.
According to him, the Divisional Police Officer handling the case assured relatives of the deceased that a comprehensive investigation had commenced.
"The Divisional Police Officer said he would ensure that the case is thoroughly investigated," Bakare stated.
Family members and community leaders have since called on the authorities to prosecute those responsible and prevent further retaliatory attacks.
Preliminary findings indicate that the deadly violence may have originated from an earlier confrontation involving a trailer driver and suspected hoodlums along Gbogbo Road within the Ikorodu area.
A resident who identified himself simply as Fasasi explained that tensions began during the afternoon when a trailer transporting a shipping container was allegedly stopped by a group of youths demanding money from the driver.
According to him, the driver insisted that payment had already been made through arrangements involving his employers.
The trailer was reportedly working for Chinese business operators who had allegedly paid N350,000 to certain individuals stationed at a nearby junction to facilitate passage.
Despite the alleged payment, another group of youths reportedly insisted on collecting additional money, resulting in a heated confrontation.
"It started in the afternoon. The driver of a trailer carrying a container was stopped at Gbogbo by some boys who wanted to collect money from him. The driver said they had already paid. Their Chinese employers said they had paid N350,000 to their bosses at the junction," Fasasi explained.
The situation took a tragic turn when one of the youths involved in the confrontation reportedly climbed onto the trailer and was accidentally trapped beneath one of its tyres.
The individual died from injuries sustained during the incident.
According to residents, police officers who responded to the scene classified the occurrence as an accident and intervened to restore calm.
However, the development allegedly sparked anger among members of the deceased youth's group.
Residents alleged that later that evening, individuals believed to be associated with the deceased youth mobilised gang members and launched what many described as a coordinated reprisal attack on Oreta community.
Witnesses said dozens of armed men stormed the area on motorcycles, firing repeatedly into the air and at people within the vicinity.
"In the night, they gathered their gang members and stormed the community on motorcycles. They came to Oreta and started shooting everywhere," Fasasi recounted.
"The young man was about to close his shop when they killed him. They also killed a physically challenged child who was eating at the time. Another person who had come to buy fish was also shot dead."
Residents said the attack lasted several minutes and left a trail of destruction in its wake.
Several shops were vandalised, glass doors shattered, and commercial activities brought to a complete halt as panic spread across the community.
Videos and photographs circulating among residents reportedly showed damaged storefronts and deserted streets following the violence.
The incident has left many residents traumatised, with some reportedly abandoning their homes temporarily over fears of further attacks.
Business owners in the area have also expressed concern over the economic impact of recurring violence, warning that insecurity is discouraging investment and threatening livelihoods.
Community leaders have urged authorities to increase police patrols, strengthen intelligence gathering, and establish permanent security measures to prevent criminal groups from operating freely within the area.
Many residents believe the attack reflects a broader challenge involving cultism, gang rivalry, extortion activities, and youth violence that has continued to plague parts of Ikorodu over the years.
As of the time of this report, efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Lagos State Police Command proved unsuccessful.
Calls and text messages sent to the command's spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, were not answered, while no official statement had been released regarding the incident.
However, community members confirmed that security operatives had intensified patrols in parts of the affected area following the attack.
The latest bloodshed has reignited public debate over cult-related violence and organized criminal activities in Lagos communities.
Security experts have repeatedly warned that unresolved gang rivalries, illegal revenue collection activities, and youth criminal networks continue to pose significant threats to public safety.
Residents of Oreta and neighboring communities are now calling on the Lagos State Government and security agencies to take decisive action against criminal groups responsible for recurring violence.
For grieving families, however, the immediate concern remains justice for the victims and assurances that innocent residents will no longer live under the constant fear of armed attacks.
As investigations continue, many hope the arrest of the six suspects will provide crucial leads and pave the way for the prosecution of all individuals connected to the deadly assault that has left Oreta community mourning its dead and struggling to recover from one of its most traumatic nights in recent memory.
We keep you informed and involved with anything from breaking news to thought-provoking opinion articles.
