Cultists suspected in hacking deaths of poly student, another in Kwara

Suspected cultists have brutally attacked a female Higher National Diploma (HND) student of the Federal Polytechnic, Offa in Kwara State, as well as a yet-to-be-identified man, resulting in their tragic deaths outside the school campus.

Police authorities in the state confirmed the incident last Friday, stating that an investigation has been initiated to unveil the masterminds behind this horrifying act.

“Management of Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State has commenced investigation into the killing of Miss Toyin Bamidele, an HND 1 Food Technology student of the institution by some unknown assailants,” the institution’s acting spokesperson, Folake Oyinloye, reported.

“The incident was received with rude shock, involving the murder of Bamidele, who was allegedly hacked to death in her rented apartment on Thursday, 16 November 2023.”

The other victim is reported to be the leader of a cult group and was fatally attacked within the school’s premises.

Toyin, rumoured to be the girlfriend of the leader of a rival group, was trailed to her residence in the Dapson area of the town.

She was washing her clothes at her residence located at Dapson Hostel (a private hostel) along the Atari area of the institution’s mini campus when the assailants came and mauled her to death.

Further findings suggest that the deaths might be connected with the now-popular “Sign out” ceremony – a celebration at the end of the academic session by graduating students in tertiary institutions in Nigeria.

However, in some schools, it has turned into wartime with clashes between rival cult groups.

“In a show of retaliation, the deceased was said to have been pounced on by the rival cult group while washing her clothes at her residence and hacked to death,” a source, who pleaded anonymity, revealed.

A resident of the area, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said: “When we heard the sound of the invasion, some of us had to run for our safety.

“But at the end of the attack, which lasted about fifteen minutes, when we got to her room, we discovered the lifeless body of the deceased and then informed the appropriate authorities of the incident.”

Meanwhile, the remains of the two victims have been deposited at the morgue of General Hospital in Offa for autopsy.