Wilson Adekumola
Not fewer than 17 students were severely injured and about nine female students were reaped as a gang of suspected armed robbers stormed off-campus hostel of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State.
It was gathered that the robbers who were heavily armed with guns, axes and machetes raided Awka were the hostels were situated shooting sporadically and robbed the students at about 12,30 pm Thursday night.
The robbery was said to have lasted for about three hours unchallenged.
Confirming the incident, a student who does not want his name in print for of attack told news men that the robbers were heavily armed with gun and axes and machetes robbing from room to room rapping the female students and robbing them of their belongings including phones, ipads and money.
“We were at the hostel when we had gunshots that lasted for about ten minutes and we ran for our lives because they have not gotten to our own hostel and we had hid at the back of some shops in the area.
Then we had loud noise of female student shouting for help but nobody could summon the courage to stop them because they are well armed.
Those that attempted to resist were beaten blue black and many people got injured but I cannot say the number of people that affected.
“One of the female students that were rapped is a virgin and they raped her twice and we were holding her because she wanted to commit suicide.
She stated further that the number of hostel in Awka is about 300 including storey-buildings and bungalows.
After the incident investigation revealed that about 17 students were injured and number of those raped were said to be about nine.
It was reported that call was put through top the Governor Chukwuma Soludo who immediately ordered security men to engage the robbers in a battle but all to no avail as the robbers had escaped before the presence of security operatives.
Source: Tribune
