Three yet-to-be-identified male adults were hacked to death by suspected cultists while returning from a birthday party in the Lagos Island area of Lagos State.

It was learnt on Sunday that the incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday.

It was gathered that the deceased victims, along with one other friend, had attended a party organised by an associate in the Epetedo area of the community.

A police source privy to the incident told our correspondent on Sunday that after the party ended, the group was returning home when some suspected cultists ambushed them.

The assailants reportedly hacked three of the men to death on the spot, while the fourth person managed to escape.

“One of them managed to escape, while the other three were macheted to death. The incident was reported at the station,” the source said.

The police source added that the attack was linked to a suspected cult rivalry in the community.

Meanwhile, an anti-cultism advocacy platform, Confra Naija, in a post seen by PUNCH Metro on Sunday, identified one of the deceased victims simply as China.

The post noted that the attackers were alleged members of the Aye and Eiye cult groups and identified the fourth person who escaped as Sanjo.

“It was reported that Eiye cultists were invited to the birthday party of one of their members, Aweda Stubborn. An Aye member, Panshi, was also celebrating his birthday, and his fellow Aye cultists were present.

“When the Ayes noticed that Eiye members were around, they laid an ambush as they were leaving. After the party, as an Eiye member named Sanjo and three others were heading home around 3 am, they were attacked by Ayes.

“Sanjo, who was reportedly armed, escaped, while the other three were killed. Stay safe. Reject cultism,” the platform partly stated.

A video attached to the post reportedly captured the moment one of the victims was attacked with machetes by a group of about 20 male adults.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Abimbola Adebisi, could not be reached for comment, as calls to her telephone lines were not answered. A text message sent to her had yet to receive a reply at the time of filing this report.

The incident adds to the spate of cult-related violence recorded across different parts of the state, even as police authorities intensify efforts to curb the menace. (The PUNCH)