‘We were held hostage for an Hour’: Eyewitness recounts horror at Lekki Cinema

A violent attack at the car park of Filmhouse Cinemas IMAX in Lekki, Lagos, has triggered fresh questions about security arrangements, emergency preparedness and the response time of authorities after a female moviegoer recounted the terrifying ordeal that allegedly left two people dead.

The incident occurred in the early hours of Saturday when a machete-wielding man reportedly attacked a security operative and another individual at the cinema premises. The motive for the assault remains unclear, although an eyewitness has claimed that the attacker later identified one of the victims as his intended target.

‘We Were Held Hostage for About an Hour’

In a video that has gone viral, the female cinemagoer said moviegoers were trapped for nearly an hour after two armed men allegedly blocked the available exit, leaving terrified customers scrambling for safety.

She said many people were forced to hide inside bathrooms while the attackers allegedly moved around the premises wielding weapons.

“Last night I went to Lekki Phase One to watch a movie. Around 1am, we were held hostage by two armed men,” she said.

According to her, the attackers blocked the exit, leaving people with limited options for escape.

She described the experience as one of the most frightening moments of her life, alleging that the attackers indiscriminately swung weapons and attacked people within the premises.

35-Minute Wait for Medical Help

One of the most troubling aspects of the account was the alleged delay in transporting an injured victim to hospital.

The eyewitness claimed that a man who sustained a stab wound remained critically injured for almost 35 minutes before a Good Samaritan was able to provide a vehicle to take him to a hospital.

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She further alleged that the victim had suffered a severe chest wound and that people attempting to help inadvertently worsened the bleeding by removing the weapon from his body.

“He had already bled out,” she said, explaining that passers-by allegedly pulled the knife from his chest because they believed removing it would save his life.

The account has raised serious questions about the availability of trained first responders and emergency medical support at a major entertainment facility operating into the early hours of the morning.

Beyond the attack itself, the eyewitness questioned whether adequate emergency procedures were in place to protect patrons during a violent incident.

She alleged that there was no clearly accessible emergency exit, no immediate emergency medical response and no law enforcement presence available to intervene during the crisis.

“No emergency exit. No emergency services. No law enforcement to come to our rescue,” she said.

She also expressed concern that members of the public appeared unfamiliar with basic first-aid procedures for victims with penetrating injuries.

Her account has therefore shifted attention beyond the identity and motive of the attacker to the broader issue of how cinemas and other late-night entertainment venues prepare for violent emergencies.

What Remains Unanswered

Several questions remain unresolved.

It is unclear how the attackers gained access to the premises, whether there were functioning surveillance systems covering the car park, how quickly security personnel raised an alarm and how long it took law enforcement to arrive.

The exact sequence of events leading to the deaths of the two victims also requires clarification, as does the identity of the alleged attacker and the motive behind the assault.

Filmhouse Cinemas has expressed sadness over the incident and confirmed that an investigation is ongoing.

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

However, as investigations continue, the incident is likely to generate scrutiny over security protocols, emergency exits, medical preparedness, crowd evacuation procedures and coordination with security agencies at entertainment venues.

For patrons, the central concern is no longer simply what happened inside the cinema premises, but whether the facility had adequate systems in place to protect people when the emergency occurred.