Students flee UNICAL campus as gunmen launch dangerous attacks
In a terrifying turn of events, masked gunmen launched armed attacks at the Malabor Republic hostels located on the University of Calabar (UNICAL) campus on Saturday night. As a result, many students reportedly fled the campus, fearing further violence.
The armed invasion occurred around 9 p.m. on Friday and lasted for over 30 minutes, with no intervention from campus security. In Hall 4, the gunmen successfully seized students’ phones and money, causing panic and chaos among the residents.
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Helen Akpan, a victim of the attack, shared her experience, saying, “The armed gang operated in Rooms 228, 227, and 232, firing their guns indiscriminately. The sounds of gunshots created fear and confusion among the students.”
The incident has left numerous students and business owners in the Malabor Republic feeling fearful and concerned for their safety.
“Some of them included Joshua Bassey from the Anatomy department, Bartolomeo Atekon from the Banking and Finance department, Offre Sharon from the Medicine department (CUMSA DOI Elect), Ekpendu Theophilus, Jeremiah Edet, and Chinonso Collins from Civil Engineering. The perpetrators of the dastardly act made away with their mobile phones, laptops, and power banks”, a student leader who gave his name as Peter explained.
Eyewitnesses revealed that the students felt helpless, as the gunmen pointed firearms at them, leaving them unable to take any action to defend themselves.
Kachi Akwo, the Student Union Government (SUG) president, and Dr. Tony Eyang, the Dean of Student Affairs, condemned the assaults on the unsuspecting students. However, the police authorities have yet to release any official statement regarding the incident.