The assailants reportedly shot at the car repeatedly and some of the bullets pierced through the windscreen and hit Thilza, who was sitting at the back. One of the friends, Lola, was said to have also sustained gunshot injuries.
Our correspondent learnt that the robbers retreated when they noticed that the driver of the car was heading towards a police station.
Thilza’s close friend, Thlama Bukar, said she was rushed to a hospital, but was rejected. She said she died on the way to another hospital that she was referred to.
Bukar, who spoke with PUNCH Metro on the telephone, said she was together with Thilza until Friday, when she (Bukar) returned to Maiduguri, Borno State, where she lives.
She said, “Phyno performed at the Carribean (the club) on Sunday. They were coming back home around 3am on Monday when they noticed that a car was trailing them. They took a detour, but the car continued following them. The driver of their car started speeding and the robbers opened fire on the car. Unfortunately, some of the bullets hit Thilza from the back of the car.
“Five persons went for the party. One of them is a man, but I don’t know his name. I learnt Lola was also hit by the bullets and has been admitted to a hospital. The incident was reported to the police.
“Thilza lived in Zone 6, Wuse 2, and served at the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps in Abuja. She clocked 25 years in January. Her corpse will be brought to Maiduguri on Thursday (today). Her father is late. Presently, her mother is not talking; she is very distraught. She was the first child of the family. She has four young siblings.”
Bukar said Thilza had planned to join the NSCDC after the service, adding that her death was a big loss to the family.
She said, “She was a kind and simple person. I left her and other friends in Abuja on Friday. They accompanied me to the airport when I was returning to Maiduguri. She told me she wanted to join the NSCDC.”