One Dead As Cultists Clash At Lagos State Polytechnic

One person has been killed  and several others injured as suspected cultists storm the Ikorodu Campus of Lagos State Polytechnic, LASPOTECH.

The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the deceased, identified as Ahmed Amao, was a former LASPOTECH student who had been expelled from the institution.

Information gathered indicated that a group of hoodlums invaded the Ikorodu campus from different directions on Tuesday evening, and then attacking the students around the polytechnic with guns, machetes and knives.

LASPOTECH spokesman, Olanrewaju Kuye, told reporters that the terrified students alerted the institution’s security personnel on sighting the hoodlums, comprising some former students of the polytechnic.

“So, we had to chase them out the campus via the polytechnic’s first gate; but when we got there, we discovered another set (hoodlums) approaching from the adjourning village to attack our students

“Upon sighting our security men the gang began to shoot at will and our security men had no choice but to retaliate.

“Unfortunately, we hit one of the hoodlums, Ahmed Amao, a former student who had been expelled for examination malpractice. We learnt he died on Wednesday,’’ Kuye said.

He added that but for the prompt response of the institution’s security personnel, many students could have lost their lives in the attack.

Kuye however gave parents the assurance that their wards are safe as normalcy ha been restored on the campus following the incident, saying:

“This will never be allowed to happen again.They should go on with their normal duties because nothing untoward will happen to them.

“Our security men now wield firearms too and our students have our phone numbers for prompt response. We will not take chances,’’ said the LASPOTECH spokesman.

Confirming the incident, Chike Oti, Spokesman, Lagos State Police Command, said the attackers were on revenge mission following an attack on one of their members. Oti said two suspects were arrested with a locally made pistol following the incident.

There was heavy presence of gun-wielding security personnel comprising the police, Oyabo (local vigilante) and private guards on the school premises.