Another 300-level student of the University of Benin simply identified as James had been reportedly shot dead by some unknown gunmen at a football viewing centre at Ekosodin, a satellite community of the campus.
This incident which was said to have happened around 11pm at an area popular for gang wars is coming up barely two weeks after a another 300-Level Chemistry student was shot dead during a carnival at the Ugbowo Campus of the university by suspected cultists.
It was learnt from Punch reports on Thursday, November 6, 2014, that a few minutes after leaving the viewing centre around 11pm, the victim, who was a student of Vocational and Technical Education was shot in the face at close range.
The victims head was shattered while his white T-Shirt and lemon shorts were soaked in blood, a source disclosed adding that the deceased body had been deposited at the Accident and Emergency Ward of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
Meanwhile, the source suspected that attack might be connected to cult activities and probably a retaliation attack in connection with the murder of Ejiroghene Gbenedio, who was killed at the 1000-Lecture Theatre field of the Faculty of Physical Sciences during a Jean carnival.
He said, “It might be connected with cult activities on the campus. But he was aware of what happens at Ekosodin at night because that place is very dangerous. I cannot say exactly why James was killed because I don’t know if he was a cultist.”
However, the university’s Public Relations Officer, Harrison Osarenren, refuted claims that of another death record in the school except the officially confirmed death of the late Gbenedio.
“There is nobody that has died in UNIBEN; I’m even with the Chief Security Officer right now. Nobody was shot dead in the University of Benin,” he maintained.
Meanwhile, while confirming the incident,the Assistant Police Public Relations Officer of the Edo State Command, Mr. Ejiroro Awara, admitted that the incident had been reported although he maintained that it was not certain whether the deceased was a UNIBEN student or not since his identity was yet to be known.
“It was reported to the police. We don’t know if he was a student but a case like that was reported to the police; we are investigating it.
“We have yet to ascertain whether he was a student or not. Somebody was shot dead and we are investigating,” Awara disclosed.
