Lekki Filmhouse attack: ‘We hid in bathrooms for an hour as armed men held us hostage’

A FEMALE moviegoer has recounted the terrifying experience of being trapped inside Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX in Lekki, Lagos, after two armed men reportedly attacked people at the facility’s car park.

The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Saturday, left two people dead after one of the attackers stabbed a security operative and another individual.

In a video that has circulated widely online, the woman said moviegoers were left stranded for about an hour as the attackers reportedly blocked the exit and moved around the premises with weapons.

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She said the situation became chaotic as frightened patrons sought refuge in bathrooms while waiting for help.

According to her, one of the attackers repeatedly swung weapons at people before stabbing a man who was later taken to a hospital.

She claimed it took about 35 minutes for someone to provide a vehicle to transport the injured victim for medical attention.

The woman further alleged that the victim suffered fatal blood loss after bystanders removed the knife from his chest, apparently believing they were helping him.

She said the incident exposed what she described as serious emergency-response gaps at the cinema.

“There was no emergency exit, no emergency services and no law enforcement to come to our rescue,” she said.

The survivor also lamented that those at the scene lacked basic knowledge of how to respond to a serious stab injury, alleging that the removal of the weapon from the victim’s body contributed to the blood loss.

She said the attacker, after being apprehended, allegedly told those present that the deceased man was his intended target.

The motive for the attack has not been independently established. Filmhouse Cinemas had earlier expressed sadness over the incident and said investigations were ongoing.

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The company also commended the deceased victims for their bravery, saying their actions helped contain the situation and restore safety at the facility.

The incident has renewed concerns about security arrangements and emergency-response preparedness at public entertainment venues, particularly facilities that host large numbers of people late into the night.