Suspected cult members have invaded Abule Nla Road in the Iponri area of Lagos State, reportedly killing three persons.

The cultists stormed the area and opened fire on youths in a restaurant.

The victims were a student of a polytechnic in Ogun State, Damilola Adegoke who died instantly, and two of his friends, identified only as Kehinde and Junior, aka Hypo.

Kehinde and Junior were rushed to the hospital but later lost their lives.

According to Punch, 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.

According to reports, Damilola’s corpse has been removed from the restaurant by the police.

However, 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.

An eyewitness, Musibau 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.”

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.”