A security outfit, which was created by the Government of Cross River State, on Friday, shot off the student Cross River University of Technology, Calabar.
The security outfit, Operation Akpakwu, comprises the Nigerian Navy, Air Force, Police, Army, Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, and the State Security Service (SSS).
The identity of the slain student is unknown at this time, and the circumstances of the killing remain unclear at the time of filing this report.
Vanguard newspaper, which did not know who was responsible for the killing, described the security officers as “gunmen” incident report.
The newspaper quoted a source as saying that the slain student was sitting and chatting with friends when “gunmen” approached.
“We were walking through the Faculty of Engineering when we saw some students sitting in a group and talking, and out of nowhere, a Sienna car approached them and one of the students stood up and ran. Some young men got out of the car and chased him,” Vanguard quoting a source, who said the student was shot from behind.
When the student collapsed, they approached to confirm that he was dead. He fired a shot into his chest and then used a shirt to cover his face, the newspaper reported, citing sources.
Vanguard quoted a source as saying that the men took the bag belonging to the slain student and fled in a car.
The police spokesperson in Cross River State, Irene Ugbo, told PREMIUM TIMES, Friday, that the information available to the police is that the student was shot by a person suspected to be an SSS operative.
“It’s not confirmed, anyway,” he added. “We are investigating.”
SSS spokesperson, Peter Afunanya, said it was not right for SSS to kill the student.
‘it’s over’
Meanwhile, the Permanent Secretary, Special Services in the Office of the Governor, Calabar, Alfred Mboto, admitted to PREMIUM TIMES that the security forces, Operation Akpakwu, killed the student, who he said was wanted by the Cross River State Government for allegedly killing a fellow student and others.
Mr. Mboto, who is the coordinator of Operation Akpakwu, said the killing cannot be attributed to the SSS or a specific security agency, but to Operation Akpakwu which he said is a “joint security agency”.
“A joint team was on patrol when we got information that he was there to kill some students. Akpakwu entered there and when they were about to arrest him, he opened fire on them. There was an exchange of fire,” he said, adding that the student was killed. during a shootout with security officers.
They say the students are a cult.
A spokesperson for the Cross River University of Technology, Onen Onen, declined to comment on the incident, saying the vice-chancellor would speak about “the moment the situation is determined”.
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