A violent incident at Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX in Lekki Phase 1, Lagos, has left two people dead after a man armed with a machete and knife reportedly attacked security personnel at the cinema in the early hours of Saturday, August 30, 2026.
The incident occurred after the man allegedly attempted to gain entry into the cinema premises but was stopped by security personnel.
According to the Lagos State Police Command, the man became violent and attacked the guards, stabbing one security officer to death and injuring another.
The suspect was subsequently attacked by people at the scene and also died.
Police spokesperson SP Adebisi Abimbola confirmed the deaths, saying, “Two people have been confirmed dead.”
The identities of the deceased were yet to be officially established at the time of the initial police report.
The circumstances surrounding the attack are now being investigated by the police. The cinema’s Chief Security Officer was reportedly taken into custody as investigators began examining what happened.
Police are also reviewing CCTV footage from the facility as part of efforts to establish the sequence of events and determine the circumstances that led to the deaths.
An eyewitness, sports journalist Buchi Laba, who was at the cinema watching Odyssey, said he left the screening at about 2am and encountered a large crowd and blood at the scene.
He reportedly said one of the victims sustained a stab wound to the chest while another was stabbed in the back. One of the injured victims reportedly died while being taken to hospital.
A female moviegoer also shared a video online in which she described the confusion that followed the incident.
She claimed some patrons were unable to leave the facility for about an hour as armed individuals were reportedly blocking the exit. According to her account, some moviegoers hid inside bathrooms during the incident.
She further alleged that one of the attackers claimed a particular person was his intended target.
Concerns were also raised over the emergency response to the incident, including claims that a knife was removed from one victim’s chest before medical assistance arrived. These accounts have not been independently established by the police.
Filmhouse Group subsequently issued a statement expressing sadness over the incident.
The company said the incident occurred in the car park outside the cinema premises and was not connected to its regular cinema operations.
Filmhouse commended its security personnel for their response and said additional security measures would be introduced across its locations following the incident.
The attack has also prompted renewed security concerns among businesses, leisure centres and residential communities around the Lekki axis, with some reportedly reviewing their existing security arrangements.
The motive for the attack remains unclear.
Police investigations are ongoing as authorities work to establish exactly what happened, the identity of those involved and the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
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