Gunmen suspected to be armed robbers in the early hours of Wednesday killed a fresh graduate of the Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot- Osurua, in Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area of the state.
The student, a computer science graduate identified as Prince was awaiting mobilisation for the compulsory National Youth Service Corps programme when he was killed by the hoodlums.
A polytechnic community source told our correspondent in Uyo, that the deceased was shot in front of his girlfriend in his room at about 1 am on Wednesday along Abuja Street, in Ikot Osurua community.
The source who pleaded anonymity revealed that the gunmen gained entrance into the compound, moved straight to the room of the victim and shot him in the stomach leaving him in a pool of blood.
According to the source, the deceased’s girlfriend immediately raised the alarm which attracted the neighbours to come out, adding that he was rushed to the hospital for treatment where he was confirmed dead.
“The gunmen didn’t steal anything from the house. They did not even rob anybody in the compound. They just shot him and escaped.
“I met the victim yesterday at about 4 pm with his girlfriend. Both of them wore facemasks. Jovially, I asked them why they were dressing in that manner. We all laughed.
“The victim was very popular in the neighbourhood and a strong member of a choral group in his church. We are shocked by the way he died,” the source added.
The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Timfon John, when contacted confirmed the incident but added that there were robbery and cult operations in the area where the victim’s compound was robbed while the student was shot dead.
“Information at our disposal is that there were robbery and cult-related operations in the area. They invaded and robbed where they shot somebody who was later identified as a student but an investigation is ongoing,” John said.
