Tension has gripped communities in Ikorodu, Lagos State, after five bodies were recovered along the riverbank in Oreta, Igbogbo, on Wednesday. This came barely 24 hours after another person was gruesomely killed in Bayeku, also within the Ikorodu axis.
Findings on Thursday indicated that the incidents may be connected to a surge in cult-related violence across parts of Lagos, which has already forced the police command to redeploy some divisional heads.
Residents said the Bayeku victim was brutally murdered, with his wrist and leg severed, while the Oreta discovery involved multiple corpses left by the riverside.
A community member, who spoke anonymously, suggested the Bayeku killing may not be cult-related.
“The person who died was not known to be a cultist. Many people believe it is linked to land grabbing. They killed him and severed his hands and legs,” the source said.
Another resident, Adeola, confirmed that police operatives visited Oreta after the five bodies were recovered.
“Some people believe the river washed the corpses ashore, but we don’t think so. The cause of death remains unknown,” he said.
A short video published by Naija Confra, a channel that documents cult activities, showed some of the corpses, including one victim in a blue hoodie lying face down and another in a black-and-white shirt with bloodstains nearby.
Reacting to the incidents, the Executive Chairman of Igbogbo/Baiyeku LCDA, Hammed Aroyewun, described the attacks as “painful, unacceptable, and a direct affront to peace.” In a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Oluwaseun Ajayi, the council boss assured residents that security agencies were working to track down those responsible.
“Our people deserve to live in peace and without fear. This administration, in collaboration with security agencies, will deploy every necessary resource to guarantee safety and restore lasting peace,” the statement read.
Aroyewun also urged residents to remain calm and law-abiding as security patrols were intensified across Baiyeku and neighbouring areas.
The tragedy comes just days after three suspected cultists were killed during a festival clash on Lagos Island. Videos from that incident showed heavy gunfire and rival groups chasing each other along deserted streets.
As of press time, efforts to reach the Lagos State Police Command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, were unsuccessful, as calls and WhatsApp messages to his phone went unanswered.
