On October 19, 2022, unidentified assailants ambushed a convoy of administrators and staff from the Federal College of Education Technical (Isu). Two people were injured in the attack.

The five car convoy included a vehicle with the college’s provost, two of his aides, the college’s librarian and a driver. While the car was crossing a bridge, they encountered sandbags blocking the road and were waved down by an unarmed man. When the car stopped, a group of armed men approached and opened fire on the vehicle.

The driver reversed into the bush and the passengers ran from the vehicle. During the commotion, the librarian was shot twice and the driver was hit by stones and sticks.

Police arrived soon after and rescued the passengers, while the assailants fled the scene. Police also announced they had begun an investigation into the incident.

Scholars at Risk is concerned about a targeted violent attack on university staff and administrators. State authorities have a responsibility to protect the security of higher education staff, including a responsibility to deter future attacks by investigating incidents and making every effort to hold perpetrators accountable. In addition to the harm to the immediate victims, violent attacks on university staff undermine academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/more-news/561127-gunmen-attack-college-provost-injure-two-persons.html
https://independent.ng/ebonyi-federal-college-provost-attacked-by-gunmen-two-injured/
https://tribuneonlineng.com/gunmen-attack-college-provost-in-ebonyi/