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.

Punch Metro was told 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.”

All roads in Benue State yesterday led to the Saint Augustine’s Catholic Church, Nenger, Markurdi as residents expressed anxiety to feed their eyes on the Jesus Christ-like image that appeared in the church during a special programme.

According to the Telegraph, as scores of people, Christians and Muslims , men and women, young and old, trooped in from long distances as the news spread across the state ravaged by the Fulani herdsmen since the beginning of the year.

Witnesses said the image , which was a carbon copy of the structure of Christ when he rose from death after he was crucified and buried, had on its head a crown, while the entire body was glittering, like precious stone.

This according to the people is a confirmation of the provisions of the Holy Bible about the existence of Jesus Christ who came to the world and died for the redemption of sinners.

The church is located behind Government Model College , Makurdi , the state capital , where a bright image fell on the crucifix of Christ. It was learnt that the majority of people surging into the vicinity of the church came from Mslurdi community while others were from the 23 local government areas of the state.

They were all eager to see the image themselves. It was also learnt that many Christians and non – Christians alike, on sighting the image which was accompanied by a bright light that overwhelmed the entire church, moved close to it and placed their hands on it.

They were shouting: “ Jesus save me,” “Jesus the son of God, have mercy on me.” One of the parishioners, Mr. Emmanuel Hembenkaan, told a correspondent that he was shocked when he saw the image. He said the image was seen in the church for the first time since the church was established.

Hembenkaan said the image appeared on Friday during a 3pm. prayer session known as “Divine Mercy.” When the news flittered into town on Sunday night, people rushed to the church yesterday.

A lot of men in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, have spoken out about their women’s love for aso-ebi.

They have decried that women’s obsession with uniform attire for occasions, popularly called “aso-ebi’’ or “anko’’ has taken toll on their finances.

According to Vanguard, some of the men who spoke to newsmen in Abuja on Tuesday said that their partner’s quest for “aso-ebi’’ was affecting their economy status.

Mr Olamide Johnson, a civil servant, complained that his wife spent a lot of money on acquiring aso-ebi for occasions, which had affected the family’s finances.

“I don’t know the person that even brought this idea of aso-ebi into our society. It has made a lot of women to strive very hard towards acquiring it for weddings or other occasions.

“This quest has affected my finance as my wife has made it a point of duty to wear aso-ebi for any weddings we are attending,’’ he complained.

Mr Chidi Nwosu, a businessman, said that his wife’s quest for aso-ebi had brought a lot of fights into their marital home.

“I have banned my wife from sewing any aso-ebi again, as it has caused a lot of fight in our home.

“The money that we are supposed to use for other things, she diverts it to buy aso-ebi to attend weddings and other ceremonies,’’ he said.

Similarly, Mr Ezekiel Sunday decried his wife’s obsession to wearing uniform clothes to the extent of borrowing money from people or collecting it on credit.

“Even when I refuse to give her money for aso-ebi, she uses virtually all her salary to buy it, even to the extent of borrowing just to get it,’’ he said.

Mr Olu Mattew advised that women should convert the money earmarked for aso-ebi to buy useful gifts for the couple.

“Instead of buying aso-ebi that are expensive, people should rather concentrate on gifts or giving the couple money that they could use in their homes.

“An alternative is to wear the wedding colours of the day for the occasion, it mustn’t be aso-ebi or anko,’’ he said.

The era of aso-ebi or anko for occasion or ceremony began in the 60’s, especially among the Yorubas of the South west.

The custom had hitherto spread to the other tribes in the country and which had made it more widely acceptable It is, however, getting more complex.

Fabrics usually used for aso-ebi or anko is ankara (wax material) which arguably the cheapest in the market between N2,500 to as much as N7,000 depending on the capacity of the celebrants.

In most cases, fabrics for cap and headgear are added to complete the attire, and costs may increase by N500 each.

Perhaps, the main reason for aso-ebi or anko in most cases, is to raise funds for the celebrator to finance his or her ceremony or occasion.

The celebrators in many ceremonies compensated those who bought his or her aso-ebi or anko with gifts at the occasion and which in many cases, had been added to the cost of the fabrics.

The issue of aso-ebi or anko has come to stay in the country and may take serious economic hardship or public enlightenment to eradicate.