By Deborah Nnamdi
There was panic at Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, on Sunday night after some yet-to-be-identified assailants, suspected to be herdsmen, attacked students of the institution, leaving an unconfirmed number injured.
The victims, mostly first-year students, were reportedly on their way to a night lesson within the school premises when they were ambushed around 9 p.m. along Ifite Road, a route described by sources as lonely and risky, especially at night.
One of the victims, a male student, was said to have sustained severe injuries during the attack and was rushed to Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital for urgent medical attention. The student reportedly lost three fingers while attempting to defend himself from the attackers.
In a message shared via WhatsApp, the victim’s mother lamented the incident, writing, “My son’s three fingers cut off, twin sister wounded.”
A source within the university disclosed that the male student had been walking along the path with his twin sister when they encountered the assailants. They reportedly attempted to flee, but the attackers caught up with the male student. It was the alarm raised by his sister that attracted the attention of passersby, who rescued him and rushed him to the hospital before alerting the institution’s security team.
University officials were said to have visited the injured students at the hospital on Monday morning. Among those who reportedly paid the visit were the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Kingsley Ubaoji; Chief Security Officer, Ken Chukwura; Director of JUPEB, Prof. C. Akunne; Sub-Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Anthony Apiti; and a representative of the Public Relations Office, Bonny Nkwuaku.
Confirming the incident on Monday, the Acting Director of Information and Public Relations/Protocol of the university, Louis Njelita, acknowledged that an attack had occurred. “Yes, there was an attack, and the Chief Security Officer has been informed about that, and I believe he has taken some actions,” he said.
