The three campuses of the University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, are currently boiling as a result of cult clashes which started weeks before the matriculation last week.
Though the campuses have, in the past weeks, been hostile environments due to the cult violence, the recent killing which allegedly claimed three lives have enveloped the students with fear.
Some of the traumatised students of the institution who spoke with our correspondent in Uyo on Wednesday lamented the incessant attacks from rival cult groups suspected to have come from outside the campuses.
One of the students, who simply identified himself as Uduak, said: “Before the last matriculation, there were shootings. During the matriculation, there were clashes between cult groups. Just yesterday, a student was shot dead during a clash between two cult groups at the Annex campus.
“I heard that three more students were shot dead in the early hours of today (Wednesday) at the main campus, Nwaniba, even though I have not confirmed that yet. We are afraid that the cult groups that lost their members may come for a reprisal.”
Also speaking, an Engineering student appealed to the state government to intervene in the ugly development before it would get out of control.
Corroborating the position that there was need for government intervention, the Director of Information, Students Union Government, Mfon John, said: “This is beyond security on campus.”
He, however, said that the union was yet to confirm whether the person killed in Tuesday’s clash was a student of University of Uyo.
Report has it that a 300 level student of the department of Communication Arts, identified as Fatherwills Ukpankere, whose dead body was found behind the Barth Ebong Auditorium, was allegedly killed during the cult clash of Tuesday.
When contacted, the Director of Information of the University, Mrs. Blossom Okorie, promised to extract facts on the issue from the University’s Chief Security Officer. She, however, hinted that the Vice Chancellor, Prof Enefiok Essien, had reported the matter to the police authorities in the state.
Confirming the unrest, the Police Public Relations Officer, Odiko MacDon, said the police were aware of the incident.
“The Commissioner of Police is trying to meet with the management of the university in order to strategise on how to tackle the menace and ensure adequate security for the university,” he said.
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