Benin – The management of Federal Polytechnic, Auchi, Edo State, on Tuesday denied reports trending on the social media that the school had been shut as a result of the cult clash that has so far claimed five lives in Iyakpi, a neighbouring community to Auchi, where the polytechnic is located.
But despite the State police Commissioner’s confirmation on Monday night that the police have arrested no fewer than 58 persons as a result of the clash in Iyakpi, Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo State, two persons were reportedly killed on Monday evening.
Mr Mustapha Oshiobugie, the Polytechnic’s Public Relation Officer, in a statement on Tuesday said: “With all the emphasis possible, the reported closure is not correct. It is a lie.
The Polytechnic has been on sessional holiday for the past one week when the students finished their examination and the hostels were vacated. A school already on holiday cannot be shut.
“What appears to drive this rumour is reported violence that occurred in Iyakpi, a town two kilometres away from the polytechnic. Preliminary reports show that no student of the polytechnic is among the reportedly dead.”
owever, gathered that two more persons were killed on Monday night thereby bringing the total number of persons killed so far to five.
The State Police Commissioner, Mr DanMallam Ababakar, confirmed the incident and announced that 58 arrests have been made in connection with it.
One of the victims, identified as Irale Obas was an ex-student of the Auchi polytechnic who recently completed his National Youth Service Corps programme.
