Tragedy as man killed during UNN bonfire event

A night of celebration at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN) turned tragic on Friday after a man identified as Power Autos, from Lejja, Nsukka, lost his life during a Faculty of Arts bonfire event.

The incident reportedly occurred at the Archaeology Department, opposite UBA Hall of Fame, where the annual gathering was being held.

A source that refused to be mentioned stated that, “The altercation began when Power Autos’ GLK vehicle accidentally scratched another car. The situation initially escalated but was quickly de-escalated by university security operatives.”

The source said Power Autos later left alongside his friends “but were ambushed within the UNN premises by people suspected to be the same people he had issues with before; they blocked his path with three vehicles”.

Those he was carrying managed to flee, according to the source, but the driver was not lucky. “He reportedly stepped out of his vehicle to assess the situation but was attacked and fatally stabbed in the throat with a knife. He died instantly.”

Our correspondent gathered that his attackers fled the scene. “They abandoned one of their vehicles in a gutter within the campus. UNN security swiftly raised an alarm. While attempting to escape through the Odenigwe Gate axis, four of the suspects were apprehended. They are currently in the custody at the Enugu State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), where investigations are ongoing.”

A security man attached to UNN, who declined to be mentioned for lack of jurisdiction to speak on the matter, told our reporter that, “The guy who stabbed the deceased tried to run away but his car fell into a ditch. He then abandoned the car there.”

The Police Public Relations Officer of Enugu State Police Command, SP Daniel Ndukwe, did not pick a call put across to him for confirmation.

UNN is yet to make an official statement on the incident. “Hold on till Monday, which is a working day,” our reporter was told by a guard attached to a bank near the scene of the incident.