Two students of Fidei Polytechnic, Benue State, killed in cult violence

Two students of Fidei Polytechnic, Gboko have been confirmed dead in a cult related crisis that engulfed the institution yesterday.

The death occurred against the backdrop of reports that the Benue State Police Command  recovered a box full of AK 47 live ammunition  from four suspects who were hauling the arms to the crisis torn Eggon and Alaago communities of Nasarawa State.

Briefing newsmen yesterday on the two incidents, the Deputy Police Public Relations Officer for Benue State, ASP  Ejike Alaribe said the police in Gboko last night received a report that two suspected cultists had at 8pm stormed the home of two students of Fidei Polytechnic and shot one of them whose name was given as Akawa on the neck, thus killing him instantly.
Alaribe noted that Akawa died before he could receive medical attention,  adding that when the news of his death filtered into the institution, students mobilized themselves and went after the assailants.

According to him, “They caught up with the two suspects who were identified as being responsible for the shooting, matcheted one of them to death but the police arrived the scene before they meted out jungle justice on the other”.

Alaribe said further that two other suspects identified as having a hand in the shooting were also arrested by the police.

On the recovered box of AK47 live ammunition, he said, the four suspects were arrested with the ammunition along the Makurdi-Lafia road by men of the joint operation task force christened ‘Operation Zenda” following a directive by the state Commisdioner of Police that patrols be intensified throughout the state.

He said the suspects who were riding in a Peugeot wagon with registration number Lagos, BE 222 KRD were flagged down for routine check by the security operatives but declined.

”Our men pursued them; they tried to run into the bush, but our men caught up with them and arrested them with minimal force and when a thorough search was conducted on the car and the suspects, the box of live ammunition, charms, knives, N96,500 cash, and three hand sets were recovered from the suspects”, the Deputy PPRO added.

-Courtesy Vanguardngr