THE quiet university town of Ekpoma evoked the dreaded imagery of a gangsters’ paradise yesterday following a gruesome attack on graduating students of Ambrose Alli University by suspected cultists at the
Ihunmudumun neighbourhood.
In a scene which was like a page straight out of Nollywood movie, the hoodlums were said to have stormed the party, brandishing sophisticated assault guns which they fired sporadically.
In the mayhem, about 12 people were feared killed by the rampaging gunmen who stormed the private hostel, the venue of the celebration where a party was being held to mark their graduation from the state owned school.
Five persons were reportedly killed on the spot by the gunmen while several others who were critically injured were rushed to an undisclosed private hospital where additional seven persons died.
The exact number of casualties could not however be confirmed as at press time as the Edo Police Spokesman, Mr Chidi Nwanbuzor, refused to pick several calls on his mobile phone were unanswered. Also, he refused to reply to a text nessage.
However, speaking on his mobile phone from Ekpoma, the Dean of Students’ Affairs, Prof Don Akhilomen, confirmed the mass killing, noting that the fatal shooting did not happened in any of the institution’s campuses.
In an emotion laden voice, Akhilomen added that the authorities were yet to verify the identity of the deceased.
He said: “We heard that some people were killed at Ihunmudumun area of the town while at a graduation party. As at now, we are yet to identify those involved. Some may our students, some might not be. So, we are still watching the situation.”
Determined efforts to reach the Commissioner of Police, Mr Johnson Kokumo, proved could also be reached as he refused to answer several on his phone and didn’t reply to a text message.