By Chidinma Nwaoji
Tragedy in Mushin: Young Boy Falls Victim to Cult Crossfire While Buying Dinner
A quiet evening in the Mushin area of Lagos turned bloody on Wednesday night when a 12-year-old boy, Wasiu, was struck and killed by a stray bullet during a violent cult clash.
The tragedy unfolded in the Olosha community at about 8 p.m., when rival cult groups engaged in a shootout that sent shockwaves through the neighborhood. Wasiu, who had stepped out to buy food from a popular roadside vendor known as Iya Ibeji, became an unintended casualty of the chaos.
According to eyewitnesses, the eruption of gunfire triggered widespread panic as residents scrambled to find safety. Business owners hurriedly closed shop, while families took cover indoors.
“One moment, Wasiu was standing at the food vendor’s spot, waiting to be served. The next moment, gunshots erupted. In the rush to flee, he was hit by a stray bullet,” said a resident, Tale Amoo.
When calm returned to the area, Wasiu’s lifeless body was discovered lying on the street. Residents rushed to get him medical help, but were met with a series of setbacks. The gate to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), the nearest medical facility, was closed at the time. Even attempts to access alternative entry points were hampered by the presence of the cultists who still lingered in the vicinity.
Another resident lamented the delay in providing aid: “We didn’t know he had been shot until later. By the time help came, it was already too late. He bled out because we couldn’t reach the hospital in time.”
The community has reportedly endured a string of cult-related attacks in recent days, leaving many residents in constant fear.
A local source described the past few nights as “hellish,” with the sound of gunfire ringing out regularly. “It’s as though we live in a war zone,” the source added. “This isn’t the first time we’ve lost someone — but it’s the most painful because it was a child.”
Reacting to the incident, the Vice Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Mr. Tubosun Aruwe, condemned the violence and described the boy’s death as a heartbreaking blow to the community.
“The death of this innocent child is not just tragic — it’s a stain on our collective conscience,” Aruwe said in a statement on Thursday. “My thoughts are with his family and all who have lost loved ones to these senseless attacks. We must not rest until justice is served.”
He urged security agencies to intensify efforts to investigate the attack and bring the perpetrators to justice without delay.
As of the time of filing this report, Lagos State Police Command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, had yet to respond to inquiries regarding the incident or confirm any arrests.