Gunmen suspected to be robbers, on Friday, reportedly broke into a hostel of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, and raped about nine female students of the institution.
TheNigerianNews gathered that the incident happened in the early hours of Friday when the heavily armed robbers numbering about 20 invaded the hostel located at Ifite road in Awka.
The robbers moved from room to room robbing the students of their valuables and raping the female students.
Some students of the institution who spoke about the incident on the condition of anonymity said that they (students) were at the hostel when they suddenly started hearing gunshots which lasted for about ten minutes, compelling them to run for their lives and hide at the back of some shops in the area.
From their hiding place, they heard a loud noise of female students shouting for help but nobody could summon the courage to stop the armed robbers as they were fully armed and some persons who attempted to resist the robbers were seriously beaten and injured.
According to to the students, one of the female students, who was reportedly raped, had been attempting to commit suicide but being held back by her fellow students.
Meanwhile, some of the armed robbers were arrested by men of the Nigeria Police who responded to distress call from the students.
The Anambra State Police spokesman, Tochukwu Ikenga disclosed this while confirming the incident in the news.
“Our men on getting wind of the information got to Ifite, Awka, and were able to battle the criminals,” he said.
However, the PPRO did not reveal the number of the armed robbers who were arrested during the operation as he said that disclosing the numbers would interrupt police investigations into the incident.
