The Provost of Ebonyi College of Health Science and Technology, Ngbo, Chetachi Usulor, has confirmed that suspected hoodlums invaded the institution’s female hostel in the early hours of June 8, leaving nine students injured and carting away phones, cash and ATM cards.
Usulor, who spoke with journalists at the college on Wednesday, said no student was missing following the attack, despite earlier reports suggesting otherwise.
According to the provost, the attackers stormed the hostel and demanded valuables from students before fleeing when security personnel and residents began arriving at the scene.
“I called the police control room, the divisional police headquarters and homeland security personnel. As people started arriving at the scene, the hoodlums fled,” she said.
Usulor clarified that the nine students receiving medical attention were not directly harmed by the attackers. Their injuries resulted from panic, as some students living on upper floors jumped through windows while trying to escape or hide their phones.
“Some of the students living upstairs jumped through the windows out of fear or while trying to hide their phones. Those currently receiving treatment sustained injuries from the fall,” she explained.
The affected students were taken to hospital for X-rays and scans to rule out spinal or waist complications before discharge.
The provost revealed that the college suspects an insider may have aided the attackers, following claims by some victims that the hoodlums repeatedly asked about the whereabouts of a specific individual.
Usulor attributed part of the security vulnerability to large stretches of unfenced land around the campus, noting that while the state government had released funds for fencing, more resources were still needed to complete the project.
On security within the hostel, she explained that the college currently employs only male security guards, who are stationed outside the female hostel and are not permitted to enter. She said the college is now considering hiring female security personnel to address this gap.
Security personnel on duty the night of the attack are currently being questioned by police as part of ongoing investigations.
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