Robbers invade school hostel, kill pupil

Tragedy struck on Thursday at the Nnewi Government High School, Anambra State, after some suspected robbers stormed the schoolboys’ hostel, shooting sporadically.

It was learnt that the gunmen struck around 3am and shot dead a Senior Secondary School 3 pupil, identified as Anthony Chisom, before escaping with their loot.

PUNCH Metro gathered that one of the robbers had rushed to the hostel under the pretext of being chased by thieves.

After calling for help, knocking repeatedly on the hostel door, the pupils were said to have let him in and offered him a cup of water.

Our correspondent gathered that the robber afterwards brought out a gun and ordered the students to submit their valuables.

The deceased was said to have managed to escape from the hostel and fled towards a lodge on the school premises where the corps members, who teach them, reside.

A source, who spoke to PUNCH Metro on the telephone on condition of anonymity, said one of the robbers, who were outside the hostel, ran after Chisom and shot him in the back, adding that one of the corps members who came out to respond to the distress call sustained gunshot injuries.

The source said, “I learnt that the robbers were four in number. One of them pretended as a victim to gain entrance into the hostel, while others lurked on the school premises. As soon as the students open the door for him, he brought out a gun and told them to submit their money and other valuables. Anthony (Chisom) managed to find his way out and ran to the corpers’ lodge, calling for help.

“The robber ran after him and shot him. He died on the spot. I learnt one of the corps members, who wanted to rescue the pupil, was also hit by a bullet, but he did not die. Anthony was in SS3 and he was preparing to sit for the National Examination Council exams. The atmosphere of the school is tense now. I was told that one of the robbers had been arrested.

Our correspondent could not get through to the school’s principal to get his comments on the incident as of press time.

However, the  Anambra State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Alphonsus Okechukwu, confirmed the attack.

 Okechukwu, a Deputy Superintendent of Police, said the command swung into action immediately the school alerted the police to the attack around 4am, adding that one of the suspected robbers had been apprehended.

He said operatives of the command had intensified security in the school and promised to further update our correspondent on the incident.

He said, “I am not on the ground now; I travelled out of the state, but I am aware of the incident. The school principal called the police around 4am that some robbers stormed the school and shot a student dead. The command mobilised to the school to assess the situation and went after the robbers. A suspect had been picked up. Investigation is ongoing.”