Hoodlums reportedly killed one person while many others were wounded when they attacked Shoprite Mall on Ring Road, Ibadan, on Sunday night.

A witness, who preferred anonymity, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that the deceased was shot dead by the hoodlums at the entrance gate of the mall.

The witness said that people at the mall started running helter-skelter when the miscreants struck which led to the injury of an unspecified number of persons.

The witness said that the attempt by the hoodlums to use the opportunity to break the glass door of the mall to loot was unsuccessful.

He said that the quick appearance of security operatives further prevented the hoodlums from gaining access to the mall.

“I suspect those boys were members of a rival cult group, trying to prove superiority here at the mall.

“The incident started at a club inside Shoprite around 8:30 p.m. and those hoodlums later pushed themselves to the entrance gate where one person was killed,” the witness said.

The police spokesperson in the state, DSP Adewale Osifeso, confirmed the incident on Monday.

“The incident occurred. Comprehensive investigations are ongoing to apprehend all the culprits involved. An update will be provided in due course,” Mr Osifeso said.

A NAN correspondent who visited the Shoprite mall where the incident happened discovered that the mall was under lock.

Also, the police and Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) personnel were stationed at the mall’s gate while nobody was allowed to enter.