The Imo State Police Command said it has arrested an alleged 21 years old 300-level student of Imo State University (IMSU) Owerri named Francis Marvellous, who hails from Ehime Mbano LGA of Imo State for allegedly stabbing to death Chinagorom Marvellous Kingsley in an alleged cult clash on Wednesday.
The deceased is a final year student of the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) and a member the University’s Man O’ War Unit.
According to the command’s spokesperson, Henry Okoye, the arrest was a sequel to a swift response to a distress call received from the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of FUTO, retired DSP Patrick Egwu, by police operatives on convoy patrol who promptly arrested the suspect who was almost lynched at the scene by an angry mob. The body of the victim was recovered and rushed to Federal Medical Center, Owerri where he was confirmed dead and deposited at the mortuary.
The police claimed the suspect confessed to the crime, admitting that he had a heated argument with personnel of the University’s Man O’ War Unit on Thursday at about 8pm during which he brought out a knife he neatly concealed in his trousers and stabbed the victim to death. He mentioned three others who were with him during the fight. They include his brother Francis Promise, Prince and a man popularly known as Soji.
Okoye said efforts are on top gear to arrest the suspects at large and ascertain their involvement in the case. “The suspect(s) will be arraigned in court upon completion of a comprehensive investigation by the State Criminal Investigation Department SCID.
“The Command therefore, is using this medium to dispel the false narratives making the rounds on social media that the victim was stabbed to death by Hausa Fulani/Northern, warning that the misinformation is the handiwork of mischief makers who want to provoke unnecessary intertribal conflict between the good people of Imo State and the Northerners residing in the State.
“Accordingly, the Commissioner of Police Imo State Command, *CP Aboki Danjuma* has directed the deputy commissioner of Police in charge of the State Criminal Investigation Department to take charge of the case and ensure that the suspects involved in this case and purveyors of fake news are arrested made to face the full wrath of the law.
“The Command calls on the general public, particularly the staff and students of FUTO to go about their lawful business as adequate security measures have been implemented to forestall any future occurrences and warned the students of FUTO to refrain from taking laws into their hands as investigation is in progress to bring the culprits to book,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, contradicting the story imo police command narrated earlier, a group, the Coalition of South East Youth Leaders, COSEYL, the apex sociopolitical youth group in the South East geopolitical zone on Thursday condemned the attack in Federal University of Technology Owerri, FUTO, allegedly by Fulani Herdsmen that led to the killing of one of the school security personnel and others who sustained various degrees of injuries.
In a tense statement by the group’s President General, Comrade Goodluck Ibem lamented that It is very unfortunate that such an institution of higher learning will be easily assessed by criminals and Fulani herdsmen.
Ibem said it is very insulting that a highly respected institution like FUTO will be easily accessed by Fulani terrorists parading as herdsmen in such an unholy hour of 10pm to attack students in their school. This nonsense must stop.
He alleged that as a result of the heavy shooting and teargas used while the attack lasted in the school, the students are afraid and terrified which is inimical for learning.
The group called on the Federal Ministry of Education to as a matter of urgent importance award contract for the immediate proper fencing of the entire school to avoiding a repetition of the attack on the school.
“The bushes and forest around the school should be removed immediately and anyone who have no business being in the school premises school not be allowed entry. All suspicious movements and persons should be reported immediately to the security.
“We call on the dynamic and performing Federal Minister of Works Senator David Umahi who in all honesty is transforming the vision of President Bola Tinubu into reality to pls as a matter of urgency rehabilitate the road leading to FUTO for easy movement and access by security agencies.
“We call on the security agencies and youths of host community of FUTO to as a matter of urgency, flush out anyone inside the bush and forest of that area. No sane person lives inside the bush. Only people with criminal intentions live inside the bush or forest to avoid been seen or noticed.
“We warn that this should be the last time FUTO will be attacked again by Fulani terrorists. The leadership of the Fulanis in Imo State should call their people to order. Enough said!
