There was tension on Sunday evening at the Ezekwe Female Hostel of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Anambra State, after students raised the alarm over a man suspected to be a Fulani herdsman found within the hostel premises.
SaharaReporters learned that students quickly apprehended the man before security officials intervened.
His motive, however, remains unclear, fuelling anxiety among students already on edge over reports of insecurity across the country.
A student resident, Chiago Stephanie, told SaharaReporters that the situation created panic as students questioned how the man gained access to a restricted female hostel.
“As we speak there is high tension in UNIZIK,” she said. “How did a Fulani herdsman enter our female hostel? Now they are saying the suspect is mentally challenged. Where did he come from, and how did he end up in our hostel in the first place if there were no hidden intentions?”
According to the student, the man began acting “as if mentally unstable” shortly after he was confronted and questioned by students.
A university official who confirmed the incident — while requesting anonymity —dismissed reports that the school was “invaded,” insisting that the man did not attack or breach the hostel forcefully.
“There’s nothing like an invasion of the students’ hostel by a Fulani herdsman or anyone else,” the official said.
“Rather, an unidentified person was seen around the hostel premises. He was caught by the safety department, and during interrogation, it appeared the person was mentally imbalanced.”
He explained that the heightened fear was partly due to the country’s tense security climate.
“Considering what is happening in the country now, seeing an unidentified male within a female hostel naturally raised panic,” he noted. “But when security officers examined him, they found he was incoherent in his answers and behaved like someone not mentally sound.”
The official further stated that no weapon or harmful object was found on the man.
“Nothing was found on him—no instruments of harm or anything suspicious,” he said. “He was taken to the safety department office for further interrogation, but so far, findings show he is mentally unstable. The speculation about him being a Fulani invader is not supported by the evidence we have.”
Students, meanwhile, continue to express fear and frustration, calling for tighter security around university hostels.
Meanwhile, efforts by SaharaReporters to speak with the University management were unsuccessful as the public relations officer (PRO), Njelita Louis, said the management would issue official statement addressing the incident and outlining new security measures, but was yet to do so as at the time of filing this report
