New details are emerging in the killing of a man said to be a 200 Level Undergraduate at the University of Benin, UNIBEN, main gate on Sunday evening.
Police in Benin City are currently investigating the killing of the Undergraduate shortly after he was said to have completed his Semester Examinations.
One of the victims identified as Alexander Omogiate, a 200 political science student was shot multiple times at a close range in his JLK Mercedes Benz by some masked men at the main entrance of the University complex.
Three other occupants, Identified as Onwuke blessed, Chinenye Christian Mbagwu, and Dorothy Ubah were hit by stray bullets where they sustained grave injuries and rushed to the University Teaching Hospital.
Dorathy Ubah who was hit by the stray bullet was said to have died on Monday as a result of the bullet’s wounds.
The second person, identified as a girlfriend to the deceased Alexander Omogiate was also killed in another attack at Airport road axis by the same unknown gunmen few hours after the attack at UNIBEN main gate.
The roving assailants were also reported to have killed another unknown name at the Uselu axis.
Although the Police have not confirmed the motive behind the killings, unconfirmed reports link the killings to a dispute over an alleged 90 million naira internet fraud deal.
A source under anonymous condition who spoke with our correspondence Alleged that, two weeks ago, the issue had degenerated where one of the suspected assailants tracked the now deceased Omogiate to the class, to share the millions for the benefit of others.
The issue, according to the source, was settled, as the late Omogiate promised to give their part to them.
A week later, it was learned that the deceased initially agreed to pay, but later refused. That refusal, the source said, escalated tension on campus before the attack.
This according to the source led to anxiety as those who couldn’t get their part of the millions, resorted to direct confrontation. Dangerous weapons like machetes and other sharp objects were used as a few people sustained injuries.
On Sunday evening, it was the last day of their exams and the bubble burst when Omogiate was trailed from the class by the suspected course mate to the main gate where they shot at his car multiple times. He died immediately as the masked assailants drove off shooting in the air to scare bystanders.
In the meantime, the Chairman of the university’s anti-cult committee, Venerable Egbenusi, has resigned.
In a statement obtained, he alleged the Vice Chancellor to have threatened him to delete video clips of the incident of the Cutlass chase pre the shooting at the main gate.
Egbenusi said he sent clips of suspected cult activity to the VC hours before a man was shot dead at the main gate on Sunday. He sent more clips after the killing.
He claims the VC called minutes later, demanding the videos be deleted within five minutes, and threatened to evict him from the Chapel Vicarage.
Egbenusi said he refused, insisting evidence must be preserved for investigation. He called the VC’s actions an “assault on the office of the University Chaplain.”
UNIBEN management and the Edo State Police Command are yet to respond.
©Eben Enasco
