Lekki cinema attack leaves two dead after machete assault

A violent attack at the Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX in Lekki, Lagos, resulted in two deaths on the night of August 29, 2026. According to the Lagos State Police Command, a man armed with a machete and a knife attempted to enter the premises and was stopped by security guards. The assailant allegedly stabbed one security guard to death and injured another before being killed by a mob.

Eyewitnesses described a terrifying scene where moviegoers were reportedly held hostage for approximately one hour as armed men blocked exits. Some customers sought refuge in bathrooms while the attackers moved through the premises. One witness reported that a victim with a severe chest wound waited nearly 35 minutes for medical transport after a bystander provided a vehicle to reach a hospital.

Police spokesperson SP Adebisi Abimbola stated that the suspect appeared to be destitute and potentially under the influence of drugs. Authorities have taken the cinema’s Chief Security Officer into custody and are reviewing CCTV footage as part of a full investigation into the incident.