Gunmen suspected to be kidnappers have shot dead a Polaris Bank branch manager simply identified as Mr. Ossy on the campus of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), after reportedly resisting an attack.
The kidnappers also abducted two female students during the same incident.
The attack occurred on Sunday evening as the banker, based in Owerri, was dropping his children off at the university.
According to accounts, his children escaped the scene, but he did not survive the encounter.
In a statement issued by its Head of Brand Management and Corporate Communication, Rasheed Bolarinwa, Polaris Bank confirmed the manager was attacked by hoodlums while bringing his children to campus, noting that while the children managed to escape from the scene, he was not that lucky.
The bank said the matter is now with law enforcement and appealed to the public to let investigators do their work.
Also, FUTO’s management confirmed that a visitor to the campus was fatally shot in the incident, which occurred on September 6, and that two female students were abducted.
In a statement from Registrar Chinonso Uba, the university said it was working with security agencies toward the students’ safe recovery, and pledged additional security measures across the campus and surrounding areas.
The incident prompted a Monday meeting between FUTO management and Imo State’s Commissioner of Police, Audu Garba Bosso, who committed to boosting security around the institution and neighbouring communities including Ihiagwa, Eziobodo, Obinze and Nekede.
Meanwhile, police in Imo State is yet to issue an official statement in respect to the development.
