The Lagos State Government has yet to issue any official statement or reaction over the mysterious and consecutive deaths of five female local government officials across different councils in the state within a span of two months.
The latest victim is the Council Manager of Coker Aguda Local Council Development Area (LCDA), Adebimpe Akinola, who died on Monday, September 29, 2025.
A concerned message issued by residents, which SaharaReporters obtained on Tuesday, lamented the tragedy and raised questions about the pattern of deaths.
“She (Adebimpe) becomes the fifth woman from Lagos State local councils to die since August this year. A coincidence? Perhaps not. What kind of death stalks these women from different councils in Lagos and just takes them one by one?” the resident said.
The message also directly called out Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and prominent female figures including First Lady Oluremi Tinubu and Abike Dabiri-Erewa, accusing them of ignoring a disturbing pattern that “targets women in public service.”
The first of the victims, Oluwakemi Rufai, served as the councillor representing Ward C in Ibeju-Lekki Local Government.
She was the only female councillor in the Ibeju-Lekki legislative council and had barely settled into office when tragedy struck. Rufai died on August 13, less than two weeks after her swearing-in, leaving colleagues and residents in shock.
Just five days later, another female councillor, Zainab Shotayo, also died. Shotayo represented Ward C in Odiolowo-Ojuwoye Local Council Development Area (LCDA). Her death, which occurred on August 18, came barely three weeks after she took office. Like Rufai, she was the only woman elected to her council’s legislative arm.
The string of deaths did not stop there. On September 20, Princess Oluremi Ajose, the Vice Chairman of Badagry West LCDA, was reported dead.
Ajose had been sworn in on July 27, serving only 55 days before her sudden passing. Her death deepened the growing concern about the safety of women occupying leadership roles in local governance across Lagos.
Basirat Oluwakemi Mayabikan, a councillor representing Ward F in Shomolu Local Government, died the following day, Sunday, September 21, 2025.
However, SaharaReporters’ efforts to obtain official responses were unsuccessful.
The Lagos State Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotoso, did not answer multiple calls or reply to WhatsApp messages sent to his mobile line.
Similarly, the State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Abimbola Adebisi, failed to answer calls or provide any statement on whether investigations had been launched into the string of deaths.
Meanwhile, there have been reports suggesting that the Lagos State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and staff members of the 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas are now seeking spiritual intervention following the mysterious death of the five women leaders.
The Lagos State chapter of the APC, through its spokesperson, Seye Oladejo, described the deaths of the female council officials as “painful and shocking.”
Oladejo, while speaking with newsmen, revealed that the party was already making arrangements to establish a special committee to investigate the incidents, determine the underlying causes, and recommend preventive measures to avert similar tragedies in the future.
He added that the party was also considering prayer interventions across local councils to “ward off the spirit of death” believed to be hovering over council officials in recent weeks.