Three Killed as Rival Groups Clash at Lagos Masqueraders Festival

Gunfire erupted during the annual masqueraders festival in the Orile Iganmu area of Lagos last week, leaving three people dead and several others injured. The violence broke out as the Igunnuko masquerade, which traditionally appears on Tuesdays during the celebration, made its procession through the community.

Witnesses said the shooting began when rival cult groups confronted one another. What started as the customary firing of shots into the air behind the masquerade quickly escalated. According to residents, a suspected cult leader and his group allegedly turned their weapons on their rivals, triggering panic and chaos.

A resident who identified himself as Toyosi said the clash led to the deaths of three people, with many others wounded. He explained that tensions rose the moment members of opposing groups sighted one another. Another resident described the incident as highly unusual, noting that the festival is normally peaceful and intended to promote harmony in the community.

An anti-cultism advocacy group, Naija Confra, reported on X that two bodies were left at the scene while one was taken away. The group added that one of the alleged perpetrators fled the area after the attack, identifying him as a figure known locally as Babalawo.