What should have been a night of cultural celebration in Lagos Island ended in bloodshed as a masquerade festival was violently disrupted by suspected cult groups, leaving at least three people dead.

Residents say the violence broke out shortly after the festival wrapped up, with rival gangs hijacking the event and turning it into a supremacy battle.

“We had just finished the festival when a fight broke out among some boys suspected to be cultists. They started hurling bottles and brandishing weapons. Nobody could intervene; everyone simply ran for safety,” a community member told reporters.

Videos circulating online captured parts of the chaos — gunshots echoed along Lagos Street, and one clip showed a group of attackers brutally assaulting a victim. Locals say the fighting raged into the night.

“The fight started in the evening and continued until midnight. Many of us couldn’t sleep because of the noise and destruction,” said another resident, Kazeem.

The incident quickly drew public attention on social media, with platforms like Naija Confra, which monitors cult clashes, reporting that gangs had effectively hijacked the festival.

Reacting to the violence, Lagos State Police spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin confirmed that security has been reinforced across Lagos Island, Lekki, Ajah, Ogombo, Elemoro, and other areas.

According to him, the Commissioner of Police, CP Olohundare Jimoh, personally led joint teams to the scene to restore order. Specialized anti-cultism and tactical squads have since been deployed, resulting in the arrest of 23 suspects linked to the unrest.

“The command has commenced a discreet investigation into the unfortunate incident,” Hundeyin said, assuring residents that efforts are underway to clamp down on cult-related violence in the state.

For many residents, the incident is yet another reminder of how quickly community events can spiral into violence when cult gangs are involved.