A third year student of Banking and Finance of Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ojo Segun, was on Monday night hacked to death by people suspected to be cultists.

The attack occurred around 7.30 pm at Osekita, an off-campus residence of students in Iworoko-Ekiti.

The victim was shot several times before he was hacked to death, while his body was left by the roadside.

The situation triggered tension in the town populated by students.

A student, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told our correspondent that the incident occurred at about 7.30pm.

“We began to hear the gunshots and pandemonium followed. What we learnt was that the victim’s attackers laid an ambush for him.  His assailants caught up with him and shot him after which they used machete to inflict cuts on his head. We are now living in fear because there may be a reprisal.”

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer in Ekiti, Mr. Alberto Adeyemi, a Superintendent of Police, said the deceased was caught in a clash of rival cultists.

“Our men got wind of the clash but by the time they  got there, they had hacked him to death with machete,” he added.

Adeyemi said the police had launched investigation into the killing, promising that the culprits would soon be arrested.

Meanwhile, the management of EKSU has said a thorough investigation is being carried out by its security outfit and the Police to unravel the killers.

A statement by the Acting Director, Information and Corporate Affairs, Mr. Ajibade Olubunmi, said the late Ojo was killed by two gunmen in a saloon where he used to be a hair stylist.

According to the statement, the Chief Security Officer of EKSU, Captain Augustine Ajayi (retd.), revealed the victim was shot at a close range.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Samuel Oye-Bandele, has expressed sympathy on the loss of life and advised students to remain calm.

  – Copyright PUNCH