A woman who witnessed the violent attack at Lekki Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX, Lagos, has recounted how moviegoers allegedly spent about an hour hiding from armed men after the cinema’s exit was blocked.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday at the cinema premises and reportedly left two people dead.
Speaking in a video that later circulated online, the unidentified woman said she had gone to the cinema to watch a movie when the situation suddenly turned violent at about 1am.
According to her account, two armed men positioned themselves around the only available exit, leaving several people at the premises unable to leave safely.
She said frightened moviegoers ran into bathrooms and other areas of the facility as they attempted to protect themselves.
“Last night I went to Lekki Phase One to watch a movie. Around 1am, we were held hostage by two armed men,” she said.
She described the experience as one of the most frightening moments of her life, claiming the attackers were carrying weapons and behaving aggressively.
“The attackers blocked the only entry, so we were forced to run into the bathrooms and pray. I have not known fear like that in my life,” she added.
The woman said the ordeal lasted for approximately one hour before the situation was brought under control.
She further alleged that the attackers swung their weapons at people during the incident and that one man suffered a serious stab wound.
According to her, it took nearly 35 minutes before a vehicle became available to transport the injured man to a nearby hospital.
She claimed that some passers-by attempted to help the victim by removing the knife lodged in his chest, after which he suffered severe bleeding.
Her account of the circumstances surrounding the man’s death has not been independently verified.
Witness raises concerns over emergency response at cinema
Beyond describing the violence, the woman criticised what she said was the absence of adequate emergency arrangements at the premises during the attack.
She alleged that there was no accessible emergency exit that moviegoers could use to escape once the main route was blocked.
The witness also questioned the response time of emergency personnel and law enforcement officers, saying those trapped at the location were left to deal with the situation themselves for a considerable period.
“No emergency exit. No emergency services. No law enforcement to come to our rescue,” she said.
She also expressed concern about the lack of basic knowledge among people at the scene on how to respond to a serious stab injury.
According to her, those trying to assist the wounded victim believed that removing the weapon from his body would help him, but she alleged that the action worsened his bleeding.
The witness made another significant claim about the motive behind the attack, saying the suspected attacker later identified the slain man as his intended target after he was apprehended.
“When they eventually caught the attacker, he mentioned that that particular man was his target,” she said.
The motive for the attack, however, remains unclear, and authorities have yet to publicly establish the full circumstances surrounding the incident based on the information available.
Filmhouse Cinemas had earlier confirmed that a violent incident occurred at its Lekki premises and expressed sadness over the deaths recorded.
The entertainment company said an investigation into the incident was underway as efforts continued to establish what led to the attack.
Filmhouse also paid tribute to the people who died, describing their actions during the incident as brave and saying their intervention helped contain the situation and restore safety at the premises.
The attack has renewed attention on security and emergency preparedness at entertainment venues where large numbers of people gather, particularly during late-night activities.
As investigations continue, further information from law enforcement authorities is expected to provide a clearer picture of the attack, the identity of those involved and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
