From far away Osun state where he is temporarily based to ensure a peaceful governorship election which comes up tomorrow, the Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo disclosed that some arrests have been made in connection with the killings.
Kokumo who spoke on his mobile phone in the wee hours of yesterday said: “Yes, some arrests have been made and the suspects have been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department headquarters in Benin.”
The Edo police boss who said that he was yet to be briefed on the exact number of suspects nabbed by the police however deplored the hydra-headed problem of cultism at the state-owned tertiary institution.
He said: “Ambrose Alli University, I must admit is a den of cultists. The killings were as a result of a fight between rival cult groups. We are determined to get to the heart of the matter and check the rising wave of cultism at the school and other tertiary institutions in the state. We can’t tolerate the situation.”
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During the bloody assault which was like a scene from a Nollywood movie, the heavily armed gunmen were said to have stormed the party in a commando style, brandishing sophisticated assault guns which they fired sporadically at the dancing students.
In the mayhem which lasted a few minutes, about 12 people were reportedly killed by the rampaging gunmen at the private hostel, the venue of the celebration where a loud party was being held by the victims to mark their graduation from the state-owned school.
Kokumo said that five persons were killed during the bloody shootout, adding that no matter the casualty figure it was one killing too many which the police could no longer tolerate.
The Edo Police Spokesman, Mr Chidi Nwanbuzor said that a locally made gun and some rounds of ammunition have been recovered from the suspects.
Nwanbuzor, however, refused to reveal the exact number of suspects arrested so far, insisting that a disclosure will jeopardize ongoing investigations into the brutal killing.
He said that the policemen who were drafted to the quiet university town to ensure the safety of lives and properties of both the students and locals were presently combing every nook and cranny of Ekpoma in a determined bid to ensure that the bloodthirsty killers are arrested and brought to justice.
He said: “Investigations are ongoing. Some arrests have been made but disclosing the number will jeopardize investigations. A locally made gun and ammunition have been recovered. We will come out with a detail report at the end of investigations. It will be premature at the moment to disclose facts.”
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