Panic broke out at Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX in Lekki, Lagos, after a machete-wielding man allegedly attacked two people at the facility’s car park, leaving two victims feared dead.
The bloody incident reportedly happened in the early hours of Saturday, shortly after moviegoers had left the cinema.
Filmhouse Group confirmed that a security incident occurred at the car park, stressing that it happened outside the cinema premises.
According to reports, the attacker allegedly confronted a security officer and another person with a machete. The two reportedly resisted him and prevented him from gaining entry into the cinema facility.
Sports journalist Buchi Laba, who said he was at the cinema for the late-night screening of Odyssey, gave a chilling account of the incident in a post on X.
Laba said the movie started at about 10pm and ended around 2am, after which the shocking attack unfolded.
He alleged that one of the victims suffered a wound to the chest, while the other was stabbed in the back. One of them was reportedly said to have died while being rushed to hospital.
Recounting the terrifying experience, Laba described it as one of the worst experiences of his life.
The exact motive for the attack remained unclear as of press time, while authorities were yet to officially confirm the number of people killed or injured.
Filmhouse said it was cooperating with the relevant authorities investigating the incident.
The cinema operator also said the attack was unrelated to its normal operations because it occurred outside the premises and disclosed that additional security measures had been deployed across its locations.
Filmhouse commended the two people who confronted the attacker, saying their bravery helped prevent the danger from spreading and allowed safety to be restored.
The company assured staff and customers that their safety remained a top priority as investigations continued.
