A teenager identified simply as Chike, who reportedly travelled from Delta State to visit a friend in Lagos, has been shot dead by suspected cultists in the Ikotun area of the state.

PUNCH Metro learnt that the incident occurred on Sunday.

The victim was said to have gone to withdraw money from a Point-of-Sale operator alongside his friend when he was accosted by a group of youths.

An eyewitness, who identified himself simply as Abiodun, told our correspondent on Thursday that the assailants shot the teenager at close range before fleeing the scene.

“He was returning from a PoS shop where he had gone to withdraw money with his friend when a group of boys approached them. They spoke briefly, and suddenly one of them opened fire on him,” he said.

“The attackers fled immediately, leaving him in a pool of blood.”

Abiodun added that the victim’s friend was spared during the attack, which caused panic among residents.

A photograph obtained by our correspondent showed the teenager lying lifeless at the scene of the incident.

Meanwhile, an anti-cultism advocacy platform, in a post on Monday, suggested that the killing might be cult-related, claiming the victim had attempted to surrender his valuables to the attackers.

According to the platform, the deceased, also known as “Ejanla,” resided in Asaba, Delta State, and had travelled to Ikotun to visit a friend.

“He had just withdrawn money from a POS outlet with his friend’s brother when they were surrounded by some men. Sources said the attackers shouted ‘Haba-Krier’ before and after shooting him.

“It was reported that he offered them his gold and the cash he had just withdrawn, but they still shot him and fled,” the post read.

Efforts to reach the spokesperson for the Lagos State Police Command, Abimbola Adebisi, were unsuccessful, as calls and text messages sent to her phone were not responded to as of the time of filing this report.

The incident has heightened concerns over recurring cult-related violence in parts of Lagos, particularly in suburban communities, despite ongoing security operations.

Recall that in December 2025, at least one person was killed during a clash between suspected members of rival cult groups in the Awoyaya area of the state.

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Nigeria and other African countries may face heightened security risks due to limited access to modern weapons, as new data shows the continent accounts for a small fraction of global arms imports.

Figures released by Stockholm International Peace Research Institute indicate that Africa contributed just 4.5 per cent of global arms imports in 2024 and 2025, compared to Europe’s dominant 48.2 per cent.

The data, published in March 2026, tracks the volume of international transfers of major weapons systems—including sales, military aid and licensed production—rather than their financial value.

Security analysts warn that the disparity could weaken the capacity of African nations to respond effectively to growing threats, including terrorism, insurgency, and transnational crimes

Across the African continent, total arms imports stood at 3.095bn in volume terms. Egypt emerged as the largest importer, recording a combined total of 825 million (1.3 per cent), followed by Morocco with 522 million (0.8 per cent) and Algeria with 313 million (0.5 per cent).

Other notable importers included Ethiopia (111 million), Sudan (107 million) and Nigeria, which recorded a total of 114 million, representing 0.2 per cent of global imports within the period under review. Nigeria’s import dropped from 93million arms in 2024 to 21 million in 2025.

Angola, Kenya and Mauritania also posted moderate figures, each contributing about 0.2 per cent.

In contrast, Europe dominated the African continent in the global arms flows, with a combined total of 30,916 million in import volume, accounting for 48.2 per cent of global transfers.

Ukraine topped the global chart with 7.605bn, representing 12 per cent of total imports, reflecting the ongoing impact of the war with Russia and sustained military support from Western allies.

Poland followed with 3.711bn (5.8 per cent), while Germany recorded 1.872bn (2.9 per cent).

The United States ranked fourth with 1.798bn (2.8 per cent), alongside other major importers such as Greece (1.205bn), the Netherlands (1.157bn), and the United Kingdom (1.095 bn).

Other European countries, including Italy, Hungary, Belgium and Norway, each accounted for between 1.2 and 1.7 per cent of global imports, further highlighting the region’s significant share of international arms transfers.

On the supply side, the United States remained the world’s leading arms exporter, with 28bn billion in transfers, accounting for 43 per cent of global exports. France followed with 5.8bn (9.1 per cent), while Russia recorded 4bn (6.1 per cent).

Germany and Israel also featured prominently among top exporters, posting 3.8bn (5.9 per cent) and 3.8 bn (5.9 per cent), respectively.

Reacting, a retired Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Wilson Inalegwu, described the situation as an opportunity for Nigeria and other African countries to become self-reliant in weapons production and security infrastructure.

“It is very important that this is happening. Our government agencies should learn from it. We can repatriate our weapons; it is an opportunity for us to be self-sufficient,” he said.

Inalegwu warned that overdependence on foreign sources for military hardware could expose the country to future risks.

“If this continues, it means we can just be cut off one day. So, let us look inward, develop our steel sector, and invest in science and technology. That is what will give us the edge,” he added.

He further stressed the importance of innovation over sheer force in modern warfare.

“Strength lies in creativity, not just brute force. Even smaller countries are gaining advantages through innovation. When your neighbour deprives you of food, he is teaching you how to farm. It is a big lesson. Every challenge is an opportunity for growth,” Inalegwu stated.

Similarly, a retired Commissioner of Police and security analyst, Lawrence Alobi, called for increased investment in equipping Nigeria’s security agencies in line with evolving global threats.

“We need to equip our security agencies considering the global trend. Wars are everywhere, and we must be well-prepared because we cannot predict what will happen tomorrow,” he said.

Alobi noted that while Nigeria currently enjoys relatively peaceful relations with neighbouring countries, such conditions should not be taken for granted.

“We are lucky to have friendly neighbours, but we should not take that for granted. We need to be proactive and ready for any eventuality,” he added.

He also emphasised the role of technology in modern security operations.

“Technology is very important. While we continue to combat terrorism, militancy, and violent crimes, adopting advanced technology will add significant value to our efforts,” Alobi said.

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