Gunmen
suspected to be cult members have invaded Abule Nla Road in the Iponri area of
Lagos State, shooting at youths in a restaurant.
During
the shootout, three persons were reportedly killed.
The
victims comprised a student of a polytechnic in Ogun State, Damilola Adegoke,
and two of his friends, identified only as Kehinde and Junior, aka Hypo.
It
was learnt that another friend, who sustained gunshot injuries on both legs,
was recuperating in a private hospital in the area.
It was
learnt that
the attackers, 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.
It
was learnt that 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.
It
was gathered that policemen from the Iponri division came to the area to remove
Damilola’s corpse and to examine the restaurant which had chairs smeared with
blood.
The
policemen, assisted by members of the Vigilantes Group of Nigeria, reportedly
arrested two of the gunmen on Ilaje and Otumara streets in the area.
When
our correspondent got to the area on Tuesday, a crowd of sympathisers gathered
at the restaurant and Damilola’s house.
A
member of the vigilance group, who identified himself only as Musibau, said the
attack looked like a reprisal.
Musibau,
who was an eyewitness, said, “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.”
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.”
The
Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Dolapo Badmos, confirmed the
attack.
She
said, “The police recorded one death. Preliminary investigation reveals that it
is a cult reprisal. Investigation is ongoing, while effort is on to arrest the
fleeing suspects.”
Tags
Society