Gunmen suspected to be cult members have invaded Abule Nla Road in the Iponri area of Lagos State, shooting at youths in a restaurant.
Scene of the crime (Photo: Punch)
The residents of Abule Nla Road in the Iponri area of Lagos State, were thrown into pandemonium on Sunday as unknown gunmen suspected to be cult members invaded the area and shot sporadically at youths in a restaurant where three persons were reportedly killed.
According to a report by Punch Metro, the victims of the killings comprised of a student of a polytechnic in Ogun State, Damilola Adegoke, and two of his friends, identified only as Kehinde and Junior, aka Hypo, while another friend, who sustained gunshot injuries on both legs, was recuperating in a private hospital in the area.
It was learnt that the unknown gunmen who reportedly came in a car, stormed the restaurant – Iya Illa Mini Mart – on Abule Nla Road by Vaughan Street at about 8pm on Sunday and opened fire on the drinkers where 20-year-old Damilola died on the spot, while Kehinde and Junior, an auto mechanic, were rushed to a hospital where they were also confirmed dead.
Reports reveal that policemen from the Iponri division assisted by members of the Vigilantes Group of Nigeria, came to the area and reportedly arrested two of the gunmen on Ilaje and Otumara streets in the area, and also removed Damilola’s corpse as well as to examine the restaurant which had chairs smeared with blood.
Speaking to a correspondent, a member of the vigilance group, who identified himself only as Musibau, said the attack looked like a reprisal.
“There were five friends at the restaurant on that evening. The polytechnic student brought four of his friends to catch fun at the junction. Around 8pm, the gunmen came in a car and started shooting. The poly student and three other friends were hit.
“The policemen later came to remove Damilola’s corpse. But the families of the two other victims had earlier removed their corpses from the scene. I saw blood all over the place. One of the deceased was taken to his father’s place on Moore Street before the police arrived.
“The two other boys killed were said to belong to a gang called Kogbagidi boys. But Damilola, the poly student, was said to be easy-going. The attack looked like a cult reprisal. That restaurant is usually where the youths stay to drink and have fun. The vigilantes, together with the police, were able to arrest two suspects with guns in the Otumara area,” Musibau, who was an eyewitness said.
Damilola’s father, Folorunsho Adegoke, said his son had come home from school to collect pocket money before he met untimely death.
He said, “Damilola came back on Friday. He came home to collect some pocket money. He was a student of the Moshood Abiola Polytehcnic, Ogun State. He and his friends were having fun at the restaurant when they shot him.
“The policemen were here on that evening. They said the attack was cult-related. I have put my comfort in God.”
A resident, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Kehinde and Junior died at the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute -Meta, on Monday.
She said, “We thought violence had stopped in our area; we did not know those gangs were only regrouping. The other families did not release the corpses of their boys to the police. The families were afraid that the burial would be delayed. Three persons died in the attack.”
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