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Fear has gripped Oreta community in Ikorodu, Lagos State, after suspected cultists invaded the area on Wednesday night and shot three people dead.

One of the victims was identified as 22-year-old Abdulmalik Bakare, a resident and shop owner in the community. Two other persons were also killed in the attack.

The violence has led to the arrest of six suspects, according to the family of the deceased.

Father confirms arrests, police promise probe

Tunde Bakare, father of the late Abdulmalik, confirmed the arrests when he spoke to journalists on Sunday.

He said the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the case has assured the family that a full investigation will be carried out.

"The DPO said he would ensure that the case is thoroughly investigated," Bakare stated.

When our correspondent visited Oreta on Sunday, residents were still in shock. Many shops remained closed and an uneasy calm hung over the area.

How a trailer dispute turned deadly

Residents say the night attack may be linked to a clash that happened earlier on Wednesday along Gbogbo Road.

A community member identified simply as Fasasi said some youths stopped a trailer carrying a container and demanded money from the driver.

According to him, the driver told the youths that his employers, who he described as Chinese nationals, had already paid N350,000 to their leaders at a nearby junction.

The argument dragged on. While it was ongoing, one of the youths climbed the trailer and slipped under its tyre. He died on the spot.

Police officers who responded to the scene said it was an accident and that the matter had been settled, Fasasi told Obgist News.

Night invasion on motorcycles

Hours later, armed men stormed Oreta on motorcycles at about 8 p.m., residents said.

They opened fire indiscriminately and attacked shops along the street.

Fasasi said Bakare was about to close his shop when the gunmen shot him dead.

A physically challenged child who was eating at the time was also killed in the shooting. Another victim, a customer who had come to buy fish, was shot dead as well.

The attackers smashed glass doors and broke into several shops before fleeing the community.

The names of the other two victims had not been officially confirmed at press time.

Community deserted, police silent

The attack triggered panic across Oreta. Many residents fled their homes, and commercial activities were abruptly halted.

Efforts to get an official statement from the Lagos State Police Command were unsuccessful on Sunday.

Calls and text messages sent to the Command's spokesperson, SP Abimbola Adebisi, were not answered at the time of filing this report.

Police investigation into the killings is ongoing.