Kidnapped Delta teacher, student die

One of the teachers of the Azagba Mixed Secondary School, Isele-Azagba in Delta State kidnapped by suspected Fulani herdsmen and later rescued on Monday night has died at the Federal Medical Centre, Asaba, Delta State.

Armed three men had stormed the Azagba Mixed Secondary School on Monday morning in a black Sports Utility Vehicle, abducted six teachers but later whisked four away while others escaped with bullet wounds.

The deceased, simply identified as Mr Oriakhi, died on Tuesday morning at the FMC.

The PUNCH gathered that a team of doctors at the FMC had battled to save the life of the teacher by operating to remove the bullet that pierced through his stomach.

It was also learnt that the four teachers that were rescued through the efforts of vigilantes and the police, two among them Mr Ifeanyichukwu and the principal of the school, Mrs Onyeje Bridget, were also shot and were receiving treatment at the FMC.

Meanwhile, the Isele-Azagba community claimed they rescued seven people, including the teachers that were shot while one of students that ran into the bush was found dead around 3.30pm on Tuesday.

“As I speak to you now, we are still combing the bush searching for the one student who ran into bush during the invasion. We just found the student dead. We are peace-loving people; it is unfortunate that this evil befell us.

“We are in a state of shock as a community; as youths, we don’t have guns to protect ourselves, what we did was to enter the bush and helped to rescue the innocent children who ran into the forest. One of the teachers died this morning.

“The police and vigilantes were chasing the kidnappers while most of us were helping the victims that were shot because the kidnappers were shooting while trying to escape,” the youth Chairman of Isele-Azagba, Edozie Ogebu, explained

The state Commissioner of Police, Mr Adeyinka Adeleke, who also confirmed the deaths, said the command was making effort to arrest the perpetrators.