A man identified simply as Basit was beaten to death by a mob in the Patey area of Lagos Island on Wednesday night, weeks after returning to Nigeria from abroad to prepare for his wedding.
Basit, who was due to wed in about two weeks, was allegedly involved in a hit-and-run incident that triggered the fatal mob attack.
—HOW THE INCIDENT UNFOLDED—
According to residents, Basit was driving along Freeman Street when his vehicle allegedly struck a man attempting to cross the road.
Rather than stop, he drove away. Angered residents gave chase and caught him a short distance away.
A resident who spoke on condition of anonymity said: “He was coming from the other end of Freeman Street when the incident happened. A resident was trying to cross the road when he was hit by the vehicle. People expected him to stop after the incident, but he drove away. He was later chased and caught before the mob attacked him.”
Another resident, Afolabi Lawal, said the mob used sticks and bottles during the assault, focusing blows on Basit’s head.
“He was hit with sticks and bottles on his head, which caused serious injuries. He became unconscious and later died,” Lawal stated.
The attackers reportedly fled the scene after realising Basit had become unresponsive.
—POLICE CONFIRM ARRESTS—
A police source confirmed that several suspects have been taken into custody over the killing, and that Basit’s remains have been deposited in a morgue.
“The remains of the deceased have been deposited in the morgue,” the source said.
Efforts to reach the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Benjamin Hundeyin, for an official comment were unsuccessful at press time.
—RENEWED CONCERNS OVER MOB JUSTICE—
The killing has again drawn attention to the rising cases of mob action in Lagos and across Nigeria, despite repeated warnings by security agencies and civil society groups against jungle justice.
Security experts say frustration with slow police response and a breakdown of trust in law enforcement often drive residents to take the law into their own hands. Authorities continue to urge citizens to report incidents to the police rather than resort to violence.
The incident comes as preparations for Basit’s wedding were already underway, leaving family members and friends in mourning.
