Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers have raped over 15 female students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka.
The Network gathered that 17 other students were injured in the robbery raid that involved 30 hostels in the University town.
The students of the institution are said to be angered by the incident which took place on Thursday at female hostels located along the students-dominated Ifite School road in Awka town.
A source said that hundreds of students were making moves to block the Arroma- Ifite Awka road in reaction to the incessant attacks by the robbers
The robbers were said to be armed guns, axes and machetes as they moved from room to room raping female students and robbing them of phones , laptops, ipads and money
It was further gathered that the robbers who were about 20 in number started the dastardly operation from 12.30
am on Thursday.
They were said to have shot sporadically while robbing without challenge from hostel to hostel in the operation that was said to have lasted three hours.
It was gathered that one of the victims, a virgin, who couldn’t stand the pain of rape attempted suicide but was prevented by her colleagues.
A student who spoke to journalists said “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 hide at the back of some shops in the area”
“Then we had loud noise of female students shouting for help but nobody could summon the courage to stop them because they are well armed”
“One of the female students that was raped is a virgin and they raped her twice and we are holding her because she wants to commit suicide”
“Those that attempted to resist were beaten blue black and many people got injured but I cannot say the number of people affected.
“The number of hostels in Ifite -Awka is about 300 and including upstairs and bungalows but from what we got after the incident more than seventeen students were injured and that number of those rapped may be nine or ten or even twelve ” she said.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Toochukwu Ikenga in a statement on Friday that security has beefed within the varsity community following a joint management-police meeting over the incident.
Ikenga said, “Today, 20/1/2023, Anambra State Police Command, met with the management of Nnamdi Azikwe University, the student union government, and the Commissioner of Homeland security affairs in the Vice chancellor’s conference hall at Unizik. This meeting is aimed at addressing the recent stealings, burglaries, cult-related attacks, and other violent incidents in some of the hostels along Ifite.”
“Some of the resolutions include, there shall be another elaborate meeting with the private hostel owners, the president of hostels, and other stakeholders, especially along Ifite.
“The Commissioner of Police, represented by the Deputy Commissioner of Police in charge of Operations DCP John Obuagbaka noted that the command has since embarked on an extensive patrol and improved operational positioning with more deployment of covert operatives to address distress calls in the area.
“Among other concerns, the command also wishes to reiterate the control room number 07039194332. Furthermore, to request security services, you can call the Area Commander, Awka 07067950441, DPO B Division 08064521837, DPO Central Police Station, Awka, 07031583583, and the Command Public Relations Officer 08039334002 for a prompt response.”
