Kogi 'Cult Clash': Poly Lecturer Stabbed to Death

Suspected cult members at the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, Friday night stabbed a lecturer to death during a crisis of supremacy that ensued between two warring cult groups. The victim, Mr. Anthony Abimaje, a senior lecturer in the Department of Entrepreneur and Research, was said stabbed in the abdomen due to his hard stance on examination malpractices in the school.

An eyewitness account disclosed that the late lecturer came into the campus at about 10pm to pick his wife, who was running a makeshift shop in the campus when one of the cult members identified him as a hardliner against exam malpractices and suddenly bounced on him, stabbing him in the process. Another account said the lecturer came to the scene of the riot as a peacemaker to separate the fight between two rival groups, when he was stabbed in the stomach by one of the rampaging students.

The man described as a born-again lecturer was said to have died on his way to the hospital before medical help could reach him.

The polytechnic is said to be notorious for cult-related activities and tribal crises that are tearing the institution apart. Only a forthnight ago, a lecturer was reportedly stripped naked after being beaten black and blue by a female student and her boyfriend for his refusal to 'cooperate' during examination period.

In the past, the institution had been closed down severally by the government due to ethnic polarization and cult-related issues But the appointment of the current Rector, Prof Mathew Ajibero few years ago seemed to have greatly reduced the crises. When contacted, the Public Relations Officer of the polytechnic, Mr. Tijani Yakubu, described the incident as unfortunate and said that the institution had been closed down indefinitely by the authorities of the polytechnic.