Lil Kesh’s Narrow Escape: Spotlight on Lagos’ Surging Crime Wave

On August 20, 2025, Nigerian rapper Lil Kesh (Keshinro Ololade) was viciously attacked in Lagos, suffering stab wounds to his neck and ear while robbers fled with jewelry worth millions of naira. The “Shoki” star broke his silence the next day via X, calling it a “curveball” but affirming he’s “safe, healing, and blessed.”

This assault underscores Nigeria’s deepening security crisis, driven by economic hardship. With inflation soaring and unemployment rampant, violent crimes like robberies and kidnappings have spiked, particularly in urban hubs like Lagos. Celebrities are prime targets, as banditry spreads southward amid poverty-fueled desperation.

Protests against hunger and “bad governance” erupted earlier this year, met with repression, highlighting systemic failures. Experts urge intelligence-led policing and economic reforms to curb this trend, as incidents like Lil Kesh’s erode public trust and safety.