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The glamorous lovers’ day celebration on Monday turned bloody at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) when gunmen killed two students. Daily Sun gathered that the clash was between two rival cult groups, namely, Black Axe and the Buccaneers,’ over a female student allegedly snatched by the Capone of the Black Axe for Valentine celebration.

The action of the Capone , the source said did not go down well with the other group leading to the clash.
A student who witnessed the shooting said besides the two cult members who were shot dead, about four others sustained injuries and were ferried out of the campus by their leaders to shield their identity.

The sources said the cult members who carried out the attack were not UNILAG students but members from another campus, adding that the attack was carried out in a commando style with sporadic shooting.
An undergraduate student of English Department told Daily Sun that the Buccaneers’ group attacked the Black Axe members while another student returning from the Mosque said those who carried out the killing were not from UNILAG because they did not cover their faces.

It was learnt that as soon the shooting started, students scampered for safety while others took cover behind the wall and under cars packed around, while others ran into the halls to avoid being hit by stray bullets. 
A senior lecturer who confirmed the killings said the university management had met to curtail any reprisal attack while security personnel had taken over the investigation of the deadly cult clash.
When Daily Sun visited the troubled institution yesterday, there was uneasy calm, as most staff and students rebuffed efforts made by the reporters to get their comments.

However, one of the students who resides at Sodeinde Hall, said there was sporadic gunshots outside the premises which caused panic everywhere. 
It was gathered that the crisis, which erupted when the students were at the peak of lovers’ day celebration, created stampede on the campus as people ran for safety.

One of the victims of the attack reportedly ran into Sodeinde Hall for help, from where he was taken to the hospital.
Although the Hall Master of Sodeinde Hall declined comments on the issue, one of the officials, who wouldn’t want his name published, said the attack could not be linked to any cult group. He said there was increasing speculation that the perpetrators of the attack could be fighting for love. Efforts made by Daily Sun our reporter to ascertain the identities of the victims were unsuccessful.
The news bulletin of the university, Information Flash (ISSN 08195540) also captured the incident, while assuring the staff and students of the university of adequate security.

“The attention of the universities authorities has been drawn to the incident which occurred in one of the Halls of Residence in the late hours of Monday, February 14, 2011 where two persons were reportedly injured in fracas. The university management has commenced investigation into the unusual incident, in particular at a time when preparation for the first semester examinations due to commence on February 21, 2011 are in top gear. Security has been intensified to ensure safety of life and property on campus. Law enforcement agents have been involved to assist the university in this respect,” it said. 
Daily Sun learnt that students are leaving the campus because of the fear of reprisal attack while some parents called their wards on phone to return home until the situation is brought under control. 

The Deputy Registrar Information of UNILAG, Mr. Dare Adebisi refused to pick his calls or replied to text message sent to his phone.
When the Lagos Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Samuel Jinadu (DSP) was called thrice, he promised to contact the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) in the area and did not call back as at the press time....

* Father cries for help.

Yola – Security operatives and authorities of the Federal University of Technology Yola in Adamawa State have swung into action to unravel the circumstances behind an acid attack on a female undergraduate of the university. The lady, a 25-year- old 100 level student of Economics, Miss Franca Ogbu, is presently receiving treatment at the intensive care unit of the Federal Medical Center, Yola.

Miss Franca Ogbu, the victim

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Franca’s face and head as well as other parts of her body is completely burnt and disfigured as she lie speechless in her amenity ward of the hospital. But, the big question that has remained unanswered now is, who is responsible for the wicked attack?. Was the attack connected with cultism now rampart in tertiary institutions across the country?. Was the attack a resultant effect of a misunderstanding between the victim and some of her perceived enemies?

The Vice- chancellor of the Federal University of Technology (FUTO), in Yola, Professor Bashir Haruna Usman told Crime Alert in his office that it was the first time the university is recording such an ugly incident in its 25 years of existence. The vice chancellor, who was visibly disturbed over the incident, gave an assurance that perpetrators of the heinous act will surely be brought to book.

Giving a vivid account of how the incident happened, the information and protocol officer of the university, Mallam Mustafa Migawa told Crime Alerts that the victim of the acid attack, Franca Ogbu, along with three of her colleagues, were holding their private studies when the attackers approached them. Quoting the colleagues of the victim, Migawa stated that the attacker came from a dark corner and pretended to be a passerby when he hauled a container of acid on Franca .

“Moments after the attack, all the four students, including Franca were unconscious until security men on campus were alerted” he disclosed.

He added that the other three students who sustained minor injuries were since treated and discharged from hospital. The chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre, Yola, Dr. Aliyu Danburam disclosed that the chance of survival of the victim is good as the attack is not live threatening. Danburam added that the lady is to undergo surgery to prevent her from being disfigured but expressed regret that the hospital lack plastic surgeons.

The father of the victim, Mr. Ogbu Adema Paul, a serving civil servant in Benue state, who was by the bedside of Franca when Crime Alert visited the hospital could not hold back tears as he wept profusely. He expressed shock over the attack on his daughter, but was confident that security agents will be able to fish out the attackers. Ogbu appealed to kind-hearted Nigerians to come to his aid in the treatment of his daughter and commended the authorities of the University for the concern shown over the quick recovery of his daughter.