Gunmen Kill UNIBEN Student Days After Final Exam

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Obiajulu Joel Nwolu

A final year student of the Department of Political Science, University of Benin, Austin Izu, has been killed through gunshot by unidentified gunmen in his friend’s off-campus residence on the Federal Girls College Road, Ugbowo.

The deceased, who took his final examination last week, was alleged to have descended to the ground floor from the upper floor of the hostel to visit his friend, Walter Emaka, Punch reported.

Reports say the assailants came into the room and shot the deceased in the head, while Walter narrowly escaped with gunshot injuries.

The case was reported at the BDPA Police Station under the Ugbowo Division, a school source who spoke to PunchMetro on condition of anonymity said.

“I know the deceased. His name is Austin, a Political Science student, who signed out last week. He resided on Adolor Road. He just went to visit his friend when the incident happened. The case has been reported at the BDPA Police Station and his injured friend is on admission at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital,” the source stated.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, UNIBEN, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, said she learnt of the incident, but insisted that no student was killed.

“We learnt of the attack. The boy (Walter) is in hospital receiving attention. No student was killed,” she said.

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However, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Kontongs Bello, confirmed the incident, adding that an investigation was ongoing to arrest the perpetrators.

Bello stated, “The case was reported by someone in Ugbowo. He came to the station with the lifeless body of one Austin Izu.

“We visited the scene of the incident. It was gathered that four armed men wearing face masks entered the room and shot at the deceased and one Walter Emaka. Emaka was shot in the upper arm and is responding to treatment at the UBTH. Four expended cartridges were recovered from the scene with photographs taken.

“The corpse has been deposited in the UBTH mortuary for autopsy and preservation. Investigation is on to arrest the suspects. The case will be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department.”

Similarly, a student of the Computer Engineering Department of UNIBEN, Joshua Oginigbo, was shot on the main campus in Ugbowo on Monday in what is suspected to be a cult-related attack.

The PPRO said the attack took place in the June 12 area of the campus, adding that one Eromase Confidence of the Department of Educational Management had been arrested in connection with the incident.

“Around 5.04pm, the Chief Security Officer of UNIBEN main campus, Ugbowo, Mrs Osa Osifo, called that a student named Joshua Oginigbo of the Computer Engineering Department was shot in the June 12 area of the campus. She visited the scene and reported that the victim was shot in the head and he was rushed to the UBTH for treatment and is currently responding to treatment.

He added, “A suspect, Eromase Confidence of the Department of Educational Management, was arrested. The case will be transferred to the Police Anti-Cultism Section for investigation.”

Source: Punch

This post was written by Obiajulu Joel Nwolu.

The views expressed here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect our views and opinions.

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