A motorcyclist identified simply as Mohammed has died after suspected robbers allegedly attacked him with a machete and severed one of his ears in the Baiyeku area of Ikorodu, Lagos State.
According to a report by PUNCH Metro, the incident occurred on Sunday evening when the assailants allegedly attempted to rob him.
Sources in the community said the suspects had reportedly carried out an operation elsewhere in the neighbourhood before entering Mohammed’s shop, where he also provided mobile phone-charging services.
They allegedly attacked him with a machete, inflicting severe injuries, before fleeing the scene.
Mohammed was subsequently taken to a hospital for treatment but reportedly died on Monday.
A community source, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the incident, confirmed the development.
“Mohammed used to charge phones for people. On the night of the incident, the robbers entered his shop and attempted to rob him. They attacked him with a machete and cut off his ear in the process. He was taken to the hospital, but we learnt that he died this morning,” the source said.
The source added that other casualties were reportedly recorded in another part of the community where the suspects had allegedly operated earlier.
A police source told PUNCH Metro that the incident had been reported at the station and an investigation had commenced.
“The incident was reported at our station, and we are aware of it. Although we suspect it was carried out by cultists because of a cult-related incident in the area that same evening, which we are still investigating, we are looking into the matter,” the source said.
However, the police had yet to establish publicly whether the attack was connected to the alleged cult-related incident.
When contacted on Monday, the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, said she was unaware of the incident and promised to get back to the correspondent.
She had yet to respond as of the time the report was filed.
The circumstances surrounding Mohammed’s death remain under investigation.
