IMAX Lekki Attack: Two Dead as Machete-Wielding Man Storms Cinema in Lagos

IMAX Cinemas in Lekki Phase 1

IMAX Lekki Attack: Two Dead as Machete-Wielding Man Storms Cinema in Lagos

LAGOS, Nigeria – Panic erupted at the IMAX Cinemas in Lekki Phase 1 on Friday night, August 29, 2026, when a man armed with a machete and a knife stormed the popular entertainment hub, leaving two people dead in a chaotic sequence of violence that has reignited urgent questions about security at public venues in Lagos. The assailant, described by police as appearing destitute and possibly under the influence of illicit substances, was denied entry by security guards at the cinema’s main entrance. What followed was a brutal attack that claimed the life of a security guard and ultimately led to the suspect being mobbed to death by an enraged crowd of patrons and passersby, according to the Lagos State Police Command.

Eyewitnesses told reporters that the incident unfolded shortly after 7:00 PM, a peak period when the cinema was filled with families, couples, and groups of friends attending evening screenings. The suspect arrived at the cinema entrance carrying both a machete and a knife, raising immediate suspicion, and security personnel stopped him and refused him entry, triggering an angry verbal exchange. Witnesses said the man suddenly lunged at the guards, stabbing one repeatedly, and that security guard succumbed to his injuries at the scene. A second security officer was also wounded during the attack and is currently receiving medical treatment, though authorities have not yet released details on his condition. As the chaos spread, bystanders and other patrons overpowered the suspect, beating him fatally, and he died before police arrived at the scene. Screaming moviegoers rushed out of the auditoriums and exits, with some locking themselves inside restrooms and screening rooms until the situation was brought under control.

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Confirming the tragic events, SP Adebisi Abimbola, spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, told journalists that investigations are in full swing. She stated that two people have been confirmed dead—the security guard who was stabbed to death and the suspect, who was mobbed by the crowd—adding that the identity of the assailant has not yet been established, and that police are looking into the precise sequence of events leading to his death. She further confirmed that the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of the IMAX cinema has been taken into custody for questioning as part of the ongoing investigation.

Authorities have confirmed that they are actively reviewing closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage from the cinema premises to reconstruct the exact events. The police said the video evidence will help investigators determine whether the attacker acted alone or had any accomplices who may have fled the scene. Investigators are also probing how the man—carrying two deadly weapons—managed to reach the cinema entrance unchallenged, raising concerns about perimeter security at high-traffic leisure centres. The detention of the cinema’s Chief Security Officer suggests authorities are examining whether internal protocols were followed or breached.

This incident has cast a harsh spotlight on security preparedness at entertainment and recreational facilities across Lagos. With the state being Nigeria’s commercial and social hub, venues like cinemas, malls, and restaurants attract thousands of visitors daily, making them potential targets for lone-wolf attackers. Security experts have called for mandatory metal detectors and bag checks at all entry points, better-trained private security personnel with crisis de-escalation skills, quicker police response times to prevent mob justice, which often compounds tragedies, and increased surveillance infrastructure in public gathering spaces.

As of the time of this report, the Lagos State Police Command has not released the identities of either the slain security guard or the suspect. The injured second guard remains hospitalized, and his condition is yet to be made public. The police have assured the public that all circumstances surrounding the deaths will be thoroughly investigated, and further updates will be provided as new information emerges, with SP Abimbola stating that anyone found to have contributed to this tragic outcome, whether by action or negligence, will be held accountable.