By: Olayinka Ganiyu
Filmhouse Group has paid tribute to two of its security staff who stood their ground against a man armed with a machete during an attack at its Lekki cinema location, while pledging to tighten security across all its branches.
The incident took place in the early hours of Saturday in the car park outside one of the company’s outlets and is understood to have left two people dead.
Police in Lagos say the attacker, who was carrying both a machete and a knife, tried to force his way into the cinema but was blocked by security personnel on duty. He reportedly turned violent after being refused entry, launching an assault on the guards.
Police spokesperson SP Adebisi Abimbola said one guard was fatally stabbed and another wounded in the attack, adding that the assailant was then set upon by a crowd and died as a result. She confirmed two fatalities but said the identities of those killed, along with the full circumstances of the incident, remain under investigation.
Abimbola said the suspect appeared to be homeless and may have been under the influence of narcotics at the time. She also disclosed that the cinema’s Chief Security Officer has been detained as police continue their inquiries, and that investigators are seeking CCTV footage from the venue to piece together what happened and determine whether anyone else was involved.
In response, Filmhouse Group said it was deeply saddened by what it called a security incident occurring just outside its premises, stressing that the episode had no connection to its normal operations. The company said it was cooperating fully with the authorities leading the investigation and had already introduced extra precautionary measures at its locations.
The cinema chain praised the two staff members for placing themselves between the attacker and members of the public, saying their courage had been instrumental in bringing the situation under control and restoring order. It said their actions in that moment would be remembered.
Filmhouse also sought to reassure both employees and customers that their safety remains its top priority, confirming that security has been stepped up across all its sites and that the situation continues to be closely monitored.
Police say the investigation remains active, with detectives set to review CCTV footage and other evidence to establish the full sequence of events and whether additional individuals played a role in the attack.