A 12-year-old boy identified simply as Wasiu has been killed by a stray bullet during a cult clash in the Mushin area of Lagos State.
It was gathered that the incident occurred on Thursday around 8 pm in the Olosha area of the community when rival cult groups engaged in a violent confrontation on Wednesday.
Our correspondent gathered that Wasiu had gone to buy food from a local vendor, popularly known as Iya Ibeji, when gunshots suddenly rang out.
A resident, Tale Amoo, told our correspondent that the shooting caused panic in the neighbourhood as everyone scampered for safety.
According to Amoo, the boy was, however, caught in the crossfire while also trying to escape to safety.
He said, “We started hearing sounds of gunshots around 8 pm, and people started running into their homes while business owners closed their shops.
“Meanwhile, Wasiu was waiting to buy food from a vendor called Iya Ibeji when he got caught up in the clash. It was while he also tried to seek refuge that the stray bullet hit him.”
Another resident who craved anonymity said the late Wasiu’s body was found lying motionless by the time the situation became calm.
The resident added that efforts to get him into the Lagos University Teaching Hospital proved abortive as the gate of the facility was shut.
“The tense situation was the reason why Wasiu did not get medical attention on time because no one knew he had already been hit by a bullet.
“Residents who found him lying on the floor quickly rushed him to LUTH, but their gate was shut. They tried to get through to the other gate, but the presence of the cultists along the route stopped them,” the resident said.
©️Punch
