James Chia, a 500- level Electrical Engineering student was gunned down by cultists while writing the first semester examination on Monday, July 15, 2019, at the old Engineering block, Cross River University of Science and Technology, CRUTECH, Calabar Campus.
According to our source, after hearing gunshots and being alerted that a student has been shot dead at the Electrical Engineering Department, some lecturers in the Civil Engineering Department of the institution made a mild announcement in the Exam Halls where Civil 500L students were writing their final paper, that all cult members either leave the hall quietly or bear the security risk themselves, as there is no security presence.
Quite a few got up, submitted empty sheets and Ieft. Some even forcefully collected from their colleagues in order to leave in groups.
The deceased, said to the Number 1 of Clans cult group, was gunned down after stepping out of the examination hall. He was subsequently axed by his assailants.
The incident threw the entire institution into panic as a good number of students flee for fear of reprisal attacks.
Idoreyen Essien, a witness, who spoke to NAN on phone, said James’ assailants were seen hovering around spotting dark goggles and pretending to be busy with their phones not knowing that they were targeting him.
“On sighting James coming out from the examination hall, they shot him three times but the bullets could not penetrate him.
“Suspecting that James must have take a native medicine, popularly known as “odeshi,” his attackers hacked him down with a machete and an ax until they ensured he gave up the ghost before they fled.”
The source further said shortly after James’ murder, different gangs, wearing black T-shirts and different faze-caps in different colours, invaded the school perhaps for reprisal attacks.
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