A birthday celebration in the Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government Area of Ogun State ended in tragedy after a 36-year-old man, Kunle Akinlose, was allegedly stabbed to death during a violent altercation at a bar along Ayetoro Road.
The incident, which reportedly occurred around 2am, threw residents of the area into panic as guests at the gathering scampered for safety.
Residents familiar with the incident told journalists on Sunday that the deceased and the suspect, identified as Damilola Fagbemi, were allegedly members of the same cult group.
A community source, who requested anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the case, disclosed that trouble started after the suspect allegedly engaged in a heated argument with the owner of the bar during the birthday event.
According to the source, the suspect allegedly attempted to assault the bar owner alongside some of his associates before the deceased intervened to calm the situation.
“People around tried to settle the issue and even told him the bar owner had done nothing wrong, but he became aggressive,” the source said.
“The deceased stepped in to prevent them from attacking the man, and that was how the disagreement shifted between both of them.”
The source explained that the confrontation later escalated into a physical fight during which the deceased reportedly overpowered the suspect.
During the clash, the suspect allegedly broke a bottle while the deceased brought out a knife before some persons at the scene intervened and confiscated the weapon.
“People separated them and collected the knife from the deceased, but the suspect still held the broken bottle. The victim probably believed the fight was over,” the source added.
“He suddenly returned and stabbed him with the broken bottle. The injury he sustained on his hand was very severe.”
Another resident, identified simply as Ela, said the injured man later staggered into a nearby bar seeking help as blood gushed from his wound.
According to him, efforts were made to stop the bleeding while those present searched for transportation to convey him to a hospital.
“I was not at the birthday party. He only ran into the bar where I was seated. A woman there tied his injured hand with a cloth because the bleeding was too much,” Ela recounted.
“They were looking for a motorcycle to take him to the hospital, but many riders refused because of the blood stains. By the time they got one, he had become very weak.”
Ela added that the victim reportedly slumped and died before reaching the hospital.
Meanwhile, an anti-cultism advocacy group, NaijaConfra, claimed in a social media post that the altercation began over allegations that the bar owner was getting close to the suspect’s girlfriend.
The group alleged that the suspect became enraged after seeing his girlfriend in conversation with the bar owner during the party.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command, Omolola Odutola, said the victim was confirmed dead at a nearby hospital where he was rushed for treatment.
She stated that detectives from the Ayetoro Budo Division had commenced investigation into the incident and were intensifying efforts to arrest the fleeing suspect.
“On May 16, 2026, at about 6:10am, a report was made that one Kunle Akinlose was allegedly stabbed with a broken bottle by one Damilola Fagbemi during a fight at Abato Bar, Ifesowapo Bus Stop, Ayetoro Ota,” the police spokesperson said.
“The victim was taken to a nearby hospital where he was confirmed dead. Detectives visited the scene immediately and investigation has commenced. Efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspect, who is currently at large.”
The police added that the matter would be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigation.