RismadarVoice Reporters
February 16, 2026
There was pandemonium at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, on Sunday night when yet-to-be-identified assailants, suspected to be herdsmen, attacked some students of the institution, inflicting varying degrees of injuries on an unconfirmed number of victims.
The students, mostly first-year undergraduates, were reportedly on their way to a night study session within the school premises when the attack occurred around 9p.m. along Ifite Road.
One of the victims, a male student, was severely injured and rushed to the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Teaching Hospital, Amaku. He reportedly lost three fingers while attempting to defend himself from the attackers.
The victim’s mother, in a WhatsApp post, lamented the incident, stating, “My son’s three fingers cut off, twin sister wounded.”
A source within the university disclosed that the students had taken a lonely and reportedly dangerous path. “That axis is known to be risky, especially at night. Being new students, they were likely unaware of the dangers associated with that route,” the source said.
According to the source, the injured student was walking with his twin sister when they encountered the attackers. They attempted to flee, but the male student was unable to outrun the assailants.
“It was the alarm raised by his sister that attracted attention and led to his rescue before the security team was alerted,” the source added.
University officials were said to have visited the victims at the hospital on Monday morning. Those who reportedly visited include the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Kingsley Ubaoji; the Chief Security Officer, Ken Chukwura; the Director of JUPEB, Prof. C. Akunne; the Sub-Dean of Student Affairs, Dr. Anthony Apiti; and a representative from the Public Relations Office, Bonny Nkwuaku.
The Acting Director of Information, Public Relations and Protocol of the institution, Louis Njelita, confirmed the incident on Monday.
“Yes, there was an attack, and the Chief Security Officer has been informed and has taken necessary steps,” Njelita stated.
