A 100-level female student at Nnamdi Azikiwe University in Awka, Anambra State, was shot and killed by a stray bullet from an unknown gunman.
The incident reportedly occurred near the Miracle Junction area of the Ifite Awka community on Thursday night.
According to witnesses, the victim was struck while walking across the street by a stray bullet intended for a tricycle driver who was being chased by the gunman.
The deceased, identified only as Uche, was reportedly a medical lab student at the university.
The motive behind the shooting is yet to be established.
The source stated, “This deceased was a 100-level student of the Faculty of Health Science; she was killed on Thursday evening by a stray bullet shot by suspected cultists who were pursuing a tricycle driver at the well-known Miracle Junction.
The tricycle driver was also shot; he pretended to be dead, but surprisingly, he eventually got to his feet and managed to flee after his assailants had gone away believing he was dead. “.
According to reports, the body of the deceased was taken to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital in Amaku Awka, where it remains.
The Anambra State Police Command's spokesman, DSP Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the incident, and stated that patrol and surveillance in the area have been increased. Ikenga appealed to any witnesses to come forward with any relevant information that could help the Command's investigation.
He said, “It is very unfortunate, preliminary information revealed that the incident is cult-related and we are already working with eyewitnesses to identify the perpetrators and possibly arrest them.
“Meanwhile, police operational positioning has been improved within Awka and patrols intensified.
“The command would not relent in waging war against cultism and other forms of crimes in the state, recently we just remanded 33 suspects in a cult-related incident. We also urge the residents of the State to always alert the police (through the Command’s control room number: 07039194332).”
The police are currently trying to establish the motive behind the shooting.