Tension heightened inImoStateUniversity, Owerri on Democracy Day, as one of the security aides of the Vice – Chancellor, Prof. B.E.B Nwoke shot at students in the Institution.
According to eye – witnesses account, trouble started when final year students of one of the Department s, the Hospitality and Tourism Management, (HTM) were taking their final first semester examinations. The Vice – Chancellor and some members of the Examination Committee moved into the Exam Hall to stop the examination arguing that the examination should not have taken place in view of the fact that it was a public holiday to mark Democracy Day.
The Examination Team not only succeeded in stopping the exams but also requested the lecturer in charge of the Course to join them to the Vice – Chancellor’s office to state reasons why he disobeyed the exams guideline and holding the Course on a public holiday. The lecturer (name withheld) however resisted to join them adding that the examination was in tandem with the wishes of the final year students who craved for it. Despite the lecturer’s plea and that of his students who shouted in unison that they agreed to have the exam on Wednesday, the Exam Team seized the question papers and answer scripts and took the lecturer to the VC’s office.
Angered by the indifference attitude of the VC and the Exam Team to their plight, the frustrated students moved to protest at the VC’s office. On reaching the VC’s office, one of Prof. Nwoke’s security aides Imo Trumpeta was told shot in the air to scare the students. While fiddling with the guns said to be a pump action, the gun fired again and shot at a passerby student who is not among the protesting students.
Our correspondent learnt that the gunshot shattered the legs of the victim who was in the pool of his blood as everybody scampered for safety.
The injured student was rushed to a hospital and his state of health has not been confirmed as at press time.
When contacted on phone, the Institution Public Relation Officer, Nze Ralph Njoku – Obi confirmed that when the students were on rampage at the VC’S office, security started shooting on the air to scare them and the victim why trying to run to safety and fell down and injured himself.
