Tension has gripped the campus of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) following a vicious machete attack on a male student, who was left severely injured while on his way to a nearby market.
The unnamed student was reportedly riding a motorcycle on Sunday when he was ambushed by a group of unidentified assailants armed with machetes.
Eyewitness accounts and footage circulating on social media show the student bleeding profusely from deep cuts to the head, with blood streaming down his face and soaking his white jersey, which had turned entirely red from the assault.
The shocking video, which has since gone viral, has sparked fear and outrage among students, many of whom are now questioning the security situation both within and around the university community.
“We are no longer safe. If someone can be attacked in broad daylight like this, what assurance do the rest of us have?” asked Chisom Nwankwo, a 300-level student of Environmental Technology.
Although details surrounding the motive remain sketchy, some students suspect the attack may be related to cult clashes, robbery, or territorial disputes common in parts of Imo State.
“There’s been rising violence around the school in recent months. Whether this is cult-related or not, the authorities need to step in fast,” said Emeka Ogbonna, President of the FUTO Students’ Union Government (SUG).
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He confirmed that the victim is currently receiving treatment at a nearby hospital and is in stable condition, but has sustained multiple lacerations requiring stitches and close medical observation.
A spokesperson for FUTO said the school is working closely with the Imo State Police Command to unravel the circumstances behind the attack.
“We condemn this act in the strongest terms,” the university stated. “FUTO remains committed to the safety and well-being of its students. We urge anyone with useful information to come forward.”
Meanwhile, the Imo State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Henry Okoye, confirmed that an investigation has commenced and patrols around FUTO and its environs have been intensified.
“We are working to identify and apprehend those responsible. Anyone found culpable will face the full weight of the law,” Okoye said.
Following the incident, students have called for increased security presence both on campus and along popular student routes to the market, lodges, and lecture halls. Many fear that similar attacks could occur if urgent preventive measures are not taken.
“The road to the market should be secured. That route has become a death trap. This is not the first time someone has been attacked there,” said Blessing Okorie, a final-year Agricultural Engineering student.