Yesterday’s deadly attack on an off-campus students hostel that killed at least 26 students of the Federal Polytechnic at Mubi, Adamawa State, North East Nigeria, was politically motivated, a government spokesman has claimed.

“The little information we have is that the fracas arose out of political rivalry,” said a spokesperson for the Adamawa State Government, quoted by the BBC (British Broadcasting Service.

The statement, tweeted a few minutes ago by BBC Africa, contradicts speculations that the massacre was perpetrated by Boko Haram.

News Express recalls that unidentified gunmen had early yesterday morning stormed the off-campus accommodations of students of Fed Poly Mubi in the Yelwan Tsamiya area, allegedly called out a list of names and then opened fire.

Unofficial reports put the death toll at around 40 but the police confirmed 26. At least 15 others were left injured in the attack.

*Photo: NEMA (National Emergency Management Agency) officials evacuating a victim.