By Odeh Favour Adiya
Tragedy struck the University of Benin (UNIBEN) on Sunday night as unidentified gunmen shot dead a student near the institution’s main gate in Ugbowo.
The victim, a student of the Political Science Department, was reportedly driving out of the campus in a Mercedes-Benz GLK after finishing his examinations when he was ambushed.
According to eyewitness accounts, the masked assailants opened fire at close range before fleeing the scene. While the student died instantly, two other occupants of the vehicle sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment at the University of Benin Health Centre.
“They shot him at close range; there was no way he could have survived,” a source at the scene narrated. “The two others in the car were lucky to escape with their lives, though they are badly injured.”
Officers from the Ugbowo Divisional Police Headquarters arrived shortly after the incident to evacuate the remains of the deceased.
The Divisional Police Officer (DPO), SP Emmanuel, described the details of the attack as still “sketchy,” noting that investigations are ongoing. As of the time of this report, the Edo State Police Command is yet to release an official statement regarding the motive behind the killing.
This incident comes amidst growing concerns over campus safety, following reports that another student was allegedly chased with a machete at the Social Science Lecture Theatre just 24 hours earlier
