Gunmen have tragically killed Fabian Chinedu, a lecturer at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka (UNIZIK), Anambra State, in Nigeria’s South-east.
The incident occurred on Monday night at about 10:10 p.m. at the busy Aroma Junction in Awka, the state capital.
Sources close to the area revealed that the assailants attempted to snatch Mr. Chinedu’s car but met resistance.
“He resisted and they shot him, then drove away with his vehicle,” a food vendor who witnessed the attack stated.
The spokesperson for the Anambra State Police Command, Superintendent Tochukwu Ikenga, confirmed the killing in a statement on Tuesday.
Mr. Ikenga explained that the attackers fled with the victim’s Toyota Corolla after the incident.
He assured the public that an investigation has been launched to bring the perpetrators to justice.
“The State Police Command commiserates with the family, friends, and management of UNIZIK over this tragic loss,” Mr. Ikenga said, urging Nigerians to assist with information that could aid the investigation.
The police further appealed to members of the public to report any abandoned or suspicious vehicles matching the description of the stolen car.
Anambra State, like other parts of Nigeria’s South-east, has experienced deteriorating security marked by frequent attacks targeting individuals, government facilities, and security operatives.
The federal government has consistently accused the separatist group, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), of orchestrating these attacks. However, IPOB has repeatedly denied any involvement.
IPOB has been at the forefront of agitating for an independent Biafra state, which it envisions as a sovereign entity carved from Nigeria’s South-east and parts of the South-south regions.
This latest attack highlights growing concerns about the worsening insecurity in Anambra State and across the region, where residents continue to live in fear of violence.
The killing of Mr. Fabian Chinedu has sparked outrage and grief, particularly within the academic community at UNIZIK.
Stakeholders have called on authorities to strengthen security measures and ensure the protection of citizens.
As investigations continue, the police urge the public to remain vigilant and cooperative in providing useful information that could help apprehend the culprits.