By Ebriku John Friday
The management of the University of Cross River State (UNICROSS) has shut the institution temporarily to enable the management and students of the institution mourn late Ford Nkasi Moses, killed allegedly by hoodlums, says Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Austin Angba.
The late Ford graduated in 2017 but was in the school to process the collection of his certificate before the unfortunate incident that led to his death on Thursday in Calabar
According to Prof Angba, the institution was shut temporarily to mourn the late student and allow the police to carry out indepth investigation on the matter.
“Yesterday night, at 9p.m., three hoodlums were parading themselves on campus and trying to take a phone from a student.
“While doing that, a second student came to help his colleague,” he said.
According to him, when the hoodlums saw that they could be apprehended, one of them brought out a knife and stabbed the second student who had wanted to help his friend.
Sadly, he died after being rushed to a hospital.
Setting the record straight, Prof Angba said that the real owner of the phone was a male friend and not female student as it was earlier reported, He noted that some of the information on the UNICROSS crisis are very very incorrect and calculated to paint his administration and the school in bad light before the public.
He added that stating that the late Ford wouldn’t have died if he got medical attention on time is false as he bleed heavily on the ground because he was stabbed on the jugular.
While lamenting the security challenge in the institution, he said, “The student and staff of the university are not happy because we have suffered so much in the hands of hoodlums in Calabar South.
“As we speak, they have taken all our lands, they break into the hostels everyday. They have encroached and built their houses inside the campus,” he said.
The vice-chancellor, who also spoke to NAN appealed to the state government to intervene.
”These people have infiltrated the campus and are now living with us. Sadly, it is through their channels that kidnapping is being carried out.
“They come in everyday, break our lurvers, steal fridges and air conditioners and collect phones from our students.”
Angba said that the management of the institution had set up a joint committee with traditional rulers in the area to boost security, but noted that cases of crime were still being recorded on campus.
He commiserated with the bereaved family and gave the assurance that the institution would ensure justice.
The vice-chancellor expressed the hope that the culprits would be arrested and prosecuted.
He said that the killing was not from cultism on campus as reported in some social media platforms.
He noted that the state Governor, Prof Ben Ayade had done much for the university, promising that the university’s management would do more to improve its security architecture.
