In a shocking and heart-wrenching turn of events, a final-year student of Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic, Ikot Osura, has tragically lost his life after being shot by gunmen in the early hours of Wednesday, January 15, 2025. The victim, identified as Prince Macaulay, a Computer Science student eagerly awaiting his mobilization for the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), was killed in cold blood in his room along Abuja Street, Ikot Osurua community, within Ikot Ekpene Local Government Area.
The incident occurred around 1 a.m. when the gunmen gained entry into the compound and made their way directly to Prince’s room. With no warning or provocation, they shot him in the stomach, leaving him to bleed out in front of his girlfriend, who was with him at the time. The young woman immediately raised the alarm, which prompted neighbors to rush to the scene. Despite their swift actions in getting Prince to the hospital, he was tragically confirmed dead upon arrival.
A source within the polytechnic community, who spoke on condition of anonymity, shared further chilling details about the attack. According to the source, the gunmen did not engage in any form of robbery or theft within the compound, instead, they focused solely on the victim. This raises even more questions about the motives behind the brutal killing, which has left the local community in a state of disbelief and mourning.
The source also described Prince as a well-liked and popular figure in the area, noting that he was an active member of his church’s choral group. “I met him yesterday around 4 pm with his girlfriend. They were both wearing facemasks, and we joked about their appearance. We never imagined that just hours later, he would be taken from us so violently. We are all in shock over his death,” the source lamented.
While the community struggles to come to terms with the loss, the State Police Command has confirmed the incident. DSP Timfon John, the spokesperson for the police, stated that preliminary investigations suggest that the attack may be linked to both robbery and cult-related activities. “Information we have indicates that there was a robbery and cult-related operation in the vicinity. The assailants invaded the area and shot the student during the robbery. An investigation is ongoing,” DSP John said, offering little solace to the grieving community.
Prince Macaulay’s untimely death has raised deep concerns about the rising insecurity in the state, especially in the wake of increasing reports of cult-related violence and armed robberies. The young student, who was on the brink of starting an important chapter of his life through the NYSC, had his future cruelly cut short. His passing has left his family, friends, and colleagues in mourning, with many struggling to understand why such an innocent life was taken so violently.
As investigations continue, the question remains: was this senseless act of violence truly the result of a robbery gone wrong, or was there a deeper, more sinister motive behind the murder? The community of Ikot Ekpene and the larger Akwa Ibom State Polytechnic are left grappling with the loss of a promising young man who had so much to offer. Prince Macaulay’s death is a tragic reminder of the dark undercurrents of violence that continue to plague many parts of the country, leaving families and communities shattered.
In the face of this senseless act, the hope is that justice will be served, and that the memory of Prince Macaulay will inspire others to stand up against the forces of violence and insecurity that threaten to tear apart the fabric of society. However, for now, all that remains are the tears and heartbreak of those who knew him, as they struggle to come to terms with the untimely loss of a young life filled with potential and promise.
The sadness of this incident will undoubtedly linger in the hearts of all who were touched by Prince’s presence, as they attempt to make sense of a tragedy that should never have occurred.
