RIP: Gunmen shoot UNIZIK lecturer

A don in the Department of Engineering of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Mr Reuben Ikwu, was shot by  unknown gunmen on Sunday.

Ikwu was said to have been mistaken for a Lagos-based  businessman (names withheld), who was on a visit to Umuawulu,  Awka South Local Government Area of Anambra State.

An eyewitness and a neighbour to the businessman, who simply identified himself as Ferdinand, told newsmen that when the three gunmen shot and killed his guest, policemen attached to the compound took cover, returned fire and shot two of the gunmen dead, while the third person, who had severe wound, jumped into a Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and escaped with  the driver.

We gathered that the businessman’s driver, who was on an errand, was, unknown to him, trailed on his way back home to the entrance of  the house, while  the Lagos-based businessman, who had engaged the service of police escorts, was playing host to the late Ikwu.

When the driver entered the compound, according to the eyewitness, the gunmen jumped out and  fired into the air, and asked the driver for his master, while they immediately rushed towards the direction where  the businessman and his guest (Ikwu) were having a discourse.

The Anambra Police  Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr Uche Ezeh,  who confirmed the incident, said investigations revealed that the gunmen were kidnappers, as some criminals in police custody identified one of the gang members as their leader.