A 12-year-old boy identified as Wasiu was tragically killed by a stray bullet during a violent clash between rival cult groups in the Olosha area of Mushin, Lagos State.
The incident occurred around 8 p.m. on Wednesday, as gunfire erupted during a confrontation between the gangs.
Wasiu had reportedly stepped out to buy food from a popular local vendor, Iya Ibeji, when the shooting began. In the chaos that followed, he was hit by a stray bullet while trying to escape.
A resident, Tale Amoo, said the sudden outbreak of gunshots sent people running for cover as shops closed and streets emptied.
“Wasiu was at the food vendor’s place when he got caught in the crossfire,” Amoo recounted. “As he tried to flee, a bullet struck him.”
Another resident, who asked not to be named, said Wasiu’s lifeless body was discovered after calm returned to the area.
Attempts to rush him to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) were unsuccessful, as the facility’s main gate was locked and alternative routes were blocked due to the continued presence of armed cultists.
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“The delay in medical help cost him his life,” the resident said.
“By the time people could move him, it was already too late.”
The community has reportedly been on edge in recent days due to frequent cult-related violence. One resident described hours of continuous gunfire around the LUTH area, saying, “Gunshots had been ringing out for hours. That was when the boy was killed.”
Reacting to the tragedy, the Vice Chairman of Mushin Local Government, Tubosun Aruwe, condemned the violence in a statement issued on Thursday. He called the killing of the child “senseless” and “heartbreaking.”
“I am deeply saddened and utterly appalled by the violent attack in Olosha,” he said. “The loss of such a young life is a tragedy that wounds us all.”
Aruwe extended condolences to Wasiu’s family and other victims of similar attacks, assuring them of his support in the quest for justice.
He also urged security agencies to launch an immediate and thorough investigation, and to bring the perpetrators to justice.
