A quiet Sunday night turned tragic at University of Benin when a yet-to-be-identified student was shot dead by suspected gunmen just outside the institution’s main gate at Ugbowo.
The victim, said to have recently completed an examination in the Political Science Department, was reportedly driving out of campus in his JLK Mercedes-Benz when masked attackers struck, firing at close range before fleeing the scene.
Eyewitnesses described a sudden, targeted assault that left little chance of survival.
“They shot him at close range, and there was no way he could have survived the attack,” a student who witnessed the aftermath said, adding that two other occupants of the vehicle sustained injuries and were rushed to the university’s health centre.
Security operatives from the Nigeria Police Force, Ugbowo Divisional Headquarters, later arrived to evacuate the victim’s remains and secure the area.
The Divisional Police Officer, SP Emmanuel, confirmed the incident but noted that details surrounding the attack were still unclear, while the Edo State Police Command has yet to release an official statement.
The killing has heightened anxiety within the university community, coming barely a day after another reported security scare. On Saturday, a student was allegedly chased with a machete at the Social Science Lecture Theatre, though the individual escaped unhurt.
Together, the incidents have raised fresh concerns about safety within and around the campus, particularly at a time when students are navigating examination activities and late-hour movements.
Credit: ThePunch
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