Suspected cultists have reportedly shot dead a student of Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic (formerly Abia State Polytechnic), Prince Ugboaja, in a disturbing case of a likely mistaken identity on Wednesday night......CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE>>>>>
Ugboaja, who was working at a barbecue (fish grill) stand at Ukwu Apu, Aba, met his untimely end when armed assailants stormed his workplace and opened fire, leaving him fatally wounded.
Eyewitnesses who pleaded anonymity revealed that the gunmen arrived at the scene with a clear target in mind, but it is believed that they mistook Ugboaja for someone else.
By the time the attackers realized their error, it was too late—he was already lying lifeless in a pool of blood.
Sources close to the deceased have insisted that Ugboaja had no known affiliations with any cult groups, making his killing even more heartbreaking.
Friends and colleagues described him as a peaceful and hardworking young man who was focused on making an honest living while pursuing his education.
“We are still in shock. Prince was a very humble person, always minding his business. He was just trying to support himself through school by working at the barbecue stand. He had no problem with anyone,” a friend told THE WHISTLER.
“We can’t keep living in fear! If an innocent boy like Prince could be gunned down just like that, then none of us is safe. The government and security forces must act now before more lives are lost,” he added.
Despite the public outcry, security operatives are yet to issue an official statement on the incident and all efforts to get police reaction failed.
However, residents are calling for immediate intervention by law enforcement agencies to address the worsening insecurity in Aba, particularly in areas plagued by cult activities.
The killing of Prince Ugboaja has left his family, friends, and the entire polytechnic community in mourning, with many struggling to come to terms with the loss of a promising young man who had his whole life ahead of him.
Confirming the ugly incident to THE WHISTLER on Thursday, the Student Union President Dr Ogbonnaya Onu Polytechnic Aba, Comrade Chinedu Frank Emmanuel said the late Prince Ogboaja was a student of the institution who is on his compulsory one-year industrial training (IT).
He further explained that an investigation had already begun to ascertain the actual cause of the attack that led to the killing of the student.
“Late Prince Ogboaja was one of our students. The incident happened yesterday and the school management in collaboration with relevant security agencies is investigating the incident.