Suspected cult members have shot Mr. Stanley Mbanefo, a final year student of the Department of Geography, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State.

The incident was said to have taken place at the university community of Idak Okpo, Uyo, around 10.47pm on Monday.

Punch learnt that the hoodlums, about five in number, invaded the community and shot the victim at a close range while he was trying to escape from a shop.

A witness, Chief Eno Clement, who is the chairman of Idap Okpo Community Development Association, said the assailants shot Mbanefo in the arm.

He added that after the incident, some residents the community rushed the victim to a hospital in the area.

He said, “They shot him in the arm and we rushed him to a hospital.”

Another witness, Eno Sunday, said doctors at the hospital had been battling to extract pellets from the victim’s arm.

She said Mbanefo was preparing for his national youth service in November before the attack.

At the hospital, a doctor, who did not want her name in print, said, “We have so far removed 14 pellets, while the patient has received blood transfusions because as of the time he was brought here, he had lost a lot of blood.”

A woman, who identified herself simply as Ekaette, said the hoodlums also attacked shop owners in the area.

“They (the cult members) commanded us to lie face down before they started stealing our things, including cash, mobile phones and laptops,” she said.

The Police Public Relations Officer in the state, DSP Chukwu Ikechukwu, promised to give details of the incident later.

He urged members of the society to partner the police to rid the society of criminal elements.