Suspected Fulani herdsmen have killed a Senior Secondary School 3 student of the Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu, Abia State, Donald Edeh.
The hoodlums also reportedly robbed motorists and passengers who were en route to Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from Enugu State.
The incident, which happened at a failed spot on Ihube Road, in the Okigwe Local Government Area of Imo State, threw the community into panic.
Marist, in a statement on Sunday, confirmed the killing of the student.
The statement read, “Some students from Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu, Abia State, were attacked by bandits around Ihube Road in Okigwe LGA on their way from a final religious profession of some Marist brothers.
“In the course of the robbery attack, one student in the person of Donald Edeh was shot and he later died.
“Three other students were injured. They are receiving treatment and they are responding to the treatment.
“We pray God to guide and protect Nigerian citizens.”
The Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, Micheal Abattam, who confirmed the incident, noted that it was a robbery attack.
PUNCH Metro, during a visit to the scene on Sunday, observed that fear had engulfed the community.
Many people who were approached by one of our correspondents declined comments.
But one person, who refused to disclose his identify, decried the “nefarious activities” of herdsmen in the area.
The Abia State Governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu, on Sunday, directed the state Commissioner of Police, Mrs Janet Agbede, to liaise with her counterpart in Imo State to arrest the hoodlums and bring them to justice.
A release by the Abia State Commissioner for Information, Chief John Kalu, said, “The Abia State Government has also confirmed from the management of Marist Comprehensive Academy, Uturu, that the three students who sustained injuries from the attack have been treated and discharged, while the parents of Master Edeh Donald have been contacted.”
The state denied reports that students of the Abia State University were kidnapped by the hoodlums.
