- The onslaught has forced the management of the school to halt academic activities for one week
Palpable trepidation has enveloped Delta State Polytechnic in Ogwashi-Uku following series of attacks on its students.
At least one student was reportedly killed, and others injured when a clutch of daredevil hoodlums attacked the institution’s student hostels.
The attackers also raped the students, looted and pillaged their victims during the attacks.
The assailants, who stormed the hostels in large number, were said to have scaled the fence of the hostels and unlocked the gate for the rest of the armed robbers after their attempts to break the gate failed.
The onslaught has forced the management of the school to halt academic activities for one week in order to put in place security measures to forestall a recurrence.
A female Higher National Diploma student, who confirmed the incident, said the students had all abandoned the school over the attacks.
“Armed men have continued invading our hostels, shooting and raping students. When they first came on Thursday, they shot a male student on the leg while two female students were raped.
“So, students have left their hostels and most of us have been coming from our various homes to attend classes for the past two weeks,” Punch quoted her as saying.
Another student who pleaded anonymity disclosed that a student was allegedly killed during the Friday onslaught.
“One student was shot dead, others were cut with cutlasses. The gunmen not only raped the female students but also shot a male student
“As I speak to you, the male student is bleeding from his anus where he is currently receiving treatment at the hospital.
“The school management has shut down the school and asked everybody to go home for one week break,” he explained
It’s gathered that the gunmen also carted away the gadgets of the victims, like handsets and laptops, and also compelled them to transfer money in their personal accounts to them, while also raping some female students and shooting anyone who resisted.
The Rector of the institution, Prof. Emmanuel Achuenu, was said to have announced the closure of the school on Friday for the students’ safety with the expectation that they would resume normal academic activities on Monday, February 26.
However, the state Commissioner of Police, Abaniwonda Olufemi, on Sunday, reportedly summoned the Area Commander and the Divisional Police Officer in Ogwashi-Uku over the matter.
He stated that the institution was shut down to avert possible protest by the students.
Olufemi said security had been tightened in the polytechnic town assuring that the command was on top of the situation.
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