A young man identified as Azeez has died after he was allegedly beaten by suspected cultists during a dispute over a missing mobile phone in the Oko-Oba area of Agege, Lagos State.

According to accounts by anti-cultism advocates and local residents, the incident began at a birthday party held in the neighbourhood. During the celebration, a fight reportedly broke out among some of the guests. In the confusion, a mobile phone went missing.

Witnesses alleged that a man known as Abela picked up the phone and handed it to Azeez, supposedly for safekeeping. The phone’s owner later discovered the device was missing and began searching for it. When the phone was traced to Azeez, he was said to have explained that Abela had given it to him and that he had no intention of stealing it.

However, advocacy platform Naija Confra, which documents cult-related violence, reported that Abela denied ever handing the phone to Azeez, despite claims from other partygoers that they saw the exchange. The denial reportedly inflamed tensions at the gathering.

The phone’s owner and some of his associates allegedly turned on Azeez, accusing him of theft and subjecting him to a beating before leaving the venue. Unable or unwilling to confront Abela directly, they allegedly focused their anger on Azeez, who was described as being part of the same social circle.

Later, Azeez is said to have confronted Abela over the denial, demanding that he clear his name. That confrontation reportedly led to another altercation, drawing in suspected members of a local cult group.

Naija Confra alleged that Azeez was then taken away to another location by these suspected cultists, where he was brutally assaulted. Video footage circulating online appears to show a group of men repeatedly attacking a defenceless victim, believed to be Azeez, as onlookers shout in the background.

Azeez reportedly succumbed to the injuries he sustained during the assault. Residents say his death has heightened fear in the community and renewed concerns about the influence of cult groups and the ease with which minor disputes can spiral into deadly violence.

At the time of reporting, there was no official statement from the police on arrests or an ongoing investigation, but rights advocates are calling for a thorough probe and prosecution of all those involved in the attack.