Stray Bullet Kills 12-Year-Old Boy During Cult Clash in Mushin, Lagos

A 12-year-old boy, simply identified as Wasiu, was tragically killed by a stray bullet during a violent cult clash in the Olosha area of Mushin, Lagos State.

TJ News Nigeria learnt that the incident occurred around 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday when rival cult groups engaged in a gun battle that threw the entire community into chaos.

Eyewitnesses said Wasiu had gone to buy food from a local vendor, popularly known as Iya Ibeji, when the violence erupted. As residents scrambled for safety, Wasiu was caught in the crossfire and struck by a stray bullet while attempting to escape the scene.

 

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A resident, Tale Amoo, recounted the panic that gripped the neighbourhood during the gunfire. “We started hearing sounds of gunshots around 8 p.m., and people started running into their homes while business owners closed their shops. Wasiu was waiting to buy food when the shooting started. As he tried to flee, a stray bullet hit him,” Amoo said.

Another resident, who requested anonymity, confirmed that the boy’s lifeless body was discovered after calm returned to the area. The source added that efforts to rush Wasiu to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) were unsuccessful due to the facility’s main gate being closed at the time.

“The tense situation delayed medical attention. Nobody initially knew he had been hit. When residents found him lying on the floor, they rushed him to LUTH, but the gate was locked. They tried to access the alternative gate, but cultists were still active along the route, making it impossible,” the resident said.

Locals say the Mushin community has been under siege from cult-related violence in recent days, with this latest incident deepening fears and insecurity.

Another resident, speaking anonymously, said, “There has been persistent gunfire around the LUTH area in Mushin. The attack lasted for hours. The boy was killed during one of those clashes, just around the same time the shooting intensified.”

Reacting to the tragic event, the Vice Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Tubosun Aruwe, condemned the killing, calling it “senseless and heartbreaking.” In a statement issued on Thursday, Aruwe described Wasiu’s death and other similar cult-related fatalities as an attack on humanity.

“I am deeply saddened and utterly appalled by the senseless and violent attack that occurred last night in the Olosha area of the Mushin Local Government Area. The loss of the innocent life of a 10-year-old child is a tragedy that strikes at the very heart of our humanity,” his statement read in part.

While offering his condolences to the family of the deceased and other victims of cult violence in the area, Aruwe pledged the local government’s support in ensuring that justice is served.

“My heart goes out to the families of all the victims during this challenging time. I share in your grief and stand with you as we seek justice for these senseless killings,” he added.

He also urged security agencies to launch a thorough investigation into the incident and bring those responsible to justice without delay.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to confirm the incident with the Lagos State Police Command proved unsuccessful. The command’s spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, did not respond to calls or WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile line on Thursday.

The tragic death of young Wasiu has once again drawn attention to the rising wave of cult violence in Lagos communities and the urgent need for coordinated security intervention.