Posted by From Nwanosike Onu, Awka on
More bodies have been recovered in Awka, the Anambra State capital where two Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) cult groups clashed.
More bodies have been recovered in Awka, the Anambra State capital where two Nnamdi Azikiwe University (NAU) cult groups clashed.
But police spokesman Fidelis Agbo said the command was only aware of the recovery of six bodies.
Of the over 20 bodies reportedly recovered, most of them are said to be NAU students.
The Dean of Student Affairs, NAU, Prof. Emeka Ezeonu, has denied confirming that seven students were killed.
Ezeonu, in a statement issued yesterday, entitled "Six students, one corps member killed in cult clash", reported in some of the dailies on Monday, said he was embarrassed by the stories.
He denied confirming that seven students were killed in the incident.
He said: "From the list provided by the State Security Service (SSS) on Monday 15th December, 2008, I can authoritatively confirm that none of the victims is a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University.
"The university campus is quiet and peaceful and normal academic activities are on. All the parents and the public are reassured of peace and tranquility on our campus and should disregard the very misleading newspaper reports. It is true that the body of six young men were picked from different spots in Awka, but it is not true that they are Unizik students.
"Because a greater percentage of our students stay off-campus, every young man or woman in Awka is falsely regarded to be a student of Nnamdi Azikiwe University and every crime credited to the students of the university.This is most unfortunate."
But sources, who pleaded anonymity, said the fleeing members of the rival cult groups were returning to town.
The police, it was learnt, are yet to make any arrest.
An unnamed leader of a vigilance group reportedly brokered a truce between the cult groups at a meeting he had with them yesterday in Awka.
Policemen have been deployed in strategic locations to quell any trouble.
The Black Axe and the Vikings clashed last Saturday in a supremacy battle.
Seven boys were killed in the incident. One of them was a youth corps member, who is serving in Kebbi State.