A suspected cult leader identified as Adedipe Adeyinkan, popularly known as Yinka Agali, has been shot dead in Surulere area of Lagos State, in what authorities suspect may be linked to ongoing gang rivalry.
The incident, which occurred late Saturday night in the Iponri axis, has heightened concerns over cult-related violence in the metropolis, especially amid speculations of possible political undertones.
Adeyinkan, said to be a prominent figure within the Buccaneers confraternity, was reportedly attacked while driving along the route.
Eyewitness accounts and preliminary reports suggest that the killing may have stemmed from clashes between rival cult groups, although some sources have also hinted at possible political connections ahead of local elections.
Claims circulating on social media linking the deceased to the All Progressives Congress remain unverified.
Confirming the development, the Lagos State Police Command said it received a distress call about gunshots around 11 30 pm near the National Stadium Bridge towards Iponri.
Police spokesperson, Abimbola Adebisi, disclosed that operatives from the Surulere Division were immediately deployed to the scene, where they found the victim inside an unregistered white Mercedes Benz GLE 350 riddled with gunshot wounds.
She said the victim was rushed to Mainland General Hospital in Yaba, where he was confirmed dead, adding that his body was later deposited in a morgue for autopsy.
According to the police, the assailants fled after abandoning an unregistered black Ford Edge at the scene before escaping in another vehicle.
Both vehicles have since been recovered, while security agencies have launched efforts to track down the fleeing suspects.
Adebisi further revealed that the family of the deceased has since collected his remains and indicated that it would not pursue the case.
The police, however, maintained that investigations are ongoing to unravel the circumstances surrounding the killing and bring those responsible to justice.