A young man identified simply as Azeez has reportedly been beaten to death by suspected cultists following a dispute over a missing phone at Oko-Oba, in the Agege area of Lagos State.
A police source told PUNCH Metro that the incident occurred on Monday, August 3, after Azeez became involved in an argument with some of his colleagues following a party. The disagreement reportedly centred on a missing phone and later escalated into an assault by some suspected cultists said to be his friends.
The police source said Azeez sustained serious injuries during the attack and later died from the injuries. “We got a report that he passed away as a result of an assault on him by some suspected cultists said to be his friends. The argument was as a result of a missing phone,” the source stated.
However, an anti-cultism advocacy platform, Naija Confra, provided additional details, saying the incident started on Sunday night, August 2, during a birthday celebration. According to the platform, a fight broke out at the event, during which a man identified as Abela allegedly took a phone and handed it to Azeez.
The platform alleged that trouble began when the owner of the phone started searching for it and later found it in Azeez’s possession. When the owner and his friends confronted him, Azeez reportedly explained that Abela had given him the phone to keep.
Naija Confra further alleged that Abela denied giving Azeez the phone despite claims that some people had witnessed the incident. According to the platform, the owner of the phone and his friends, who were allegedly unable to confront Abela, attacked Azeez before leaving the party.
The advocacy group said Azeez later confronted Abela over his alleged denial, resulting in another argument. It alleged that Azeez was subsequently taken to another location by suspected members of the Neo-Black Movement, where he was allegedly assaulted.
Azeez reportedly succumbed to the injuries sustained in the alleged assault. The circumstances surrounding his death have continued to generate concerns over cult-related violence and the dangers of escalating disputes among young people.
