GUNMEN ATTACK FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC OKO, KILL FOUR STUDENTS, ABDUCT TWO LECTURERS
Gunmen launched a deadly attack on the Federal Polytechnic Oko in Anambra State, killing at least four students and abducting two lecturers. The incident occurred on Thursday night, with eyewitnesses describing the attackers as arriving in two vehicles and opening fire indiscriminately at a drinking spot and hostels. According to reports, about seven persons, mostly students, were shot at different locations, with some victims shot at a drinking spot along Tipper Road and others at various hostels. “The gunmen attacked Total Area, Victoria Point Drinking Joint and then some hostels. We heard there was another group operating on bike. Probably they were the ones moving round shooting at people,” a source said. The identity of the abducted lecturers is yet to be confirmed, while the actual number of students killed or wounded is still unknown. A staff member of the polytechnic said, “The only thing we are sure of is that some gunmen invaded some neighborhoods around the polytechnic and attacked people. We don’t have details of that yet.” The Anambra State Police Command has taken over the crime scene and is making efforts to arrest the perpetrators. According to the police, two fatalities were recorded, and two persons were abducted. The Command’s Spokesperson, Tochukwu Ikenga, said, “The Police Operatives led by the Area Commander Aguata, complemented by the Joint Security Force comprising the Army, Navy, Civil Defence and Vigilante Operatives have taken over the scene of an alleged cult-related shooting.” Ikenga appealed for calm, assuring that operatives were “already acting on some clues from the scene and leveraging on necessary information from some eyewitnesses for the possible arrest of the hoodlums.” The motive behind the attack is suspected to be cult-related, with the police investigating the incident.