By Tony Edike
ENUGU – CULT related killings resumed in Enugu Thursday with the shooting to death of four persons including a councilor.
This is coming on the heels of unconfirmed reports that the abductors of the Vice Chancellor of Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT, Professor Cyprian Onyeji, have demanded a ransom of about N200 million as a condition for his release.
Professor Cyprian Onyeji
The four victims killed in the renewed cult war were killed at different points within Enugu capital city Thursday. Two were killed in the morning at Adelabu and Peter Okoye streets, Uwani area of Enugu while one was killed at Onuasata in the afternoon.
The fourth, a councilor in one of the local councils of the state was shot dead Thursday evening at One Day Road, Awkunanaw.
The assailants used cars for the operation and were heavily armed, according to an eyewitness. The cultists resorted to using cars for their nefarious activities following the ban on motorcycles which they normally use to escape after launching an attack.
The killings came on the heels of the police hunt for the kidnappers of ESUT Vice Chancellor, whose official vehicle, a Hunda Accord in which he was taken away on Wednesdday was reportedly found Thursday.
Although the police did not confirm the ransom demand, they confirmed that the vehicle was recovered intact. Sources said that the kidnappers made telephone contacts with Professor Onyeji’s family and made the ransom demand Thursday but the person who received the call could not be ascertained.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) Enugu State Command, Mr. Ebere Amaraizu said the police were on top of the situation saying that they have spread their dragnets for a crackdown on the abductors.
The police spokesman confirmed the killings in cult related violence, saying that the police is investigating the killings.
SOURCE: 17 August 2012.
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