A somber cloud has fallen over the University of Benin community following a violent attack at the institution’s Ugbowo campus main gate on Sunday evening. A young man, believed to be a student of the university, was shot dead by masked gunmen while driving out of the campus in a Mercedes-Benz GLK with the registration number AAA 601 HT.
The incident occurred just an hour after the victim had reportedly finished his final examinations in the Department of Political Science. The attackers intercepted the victim’s vehicle using another Mercedes-Benz GLK, firing at him at close range before fleeing the scene and abandoning their own car.
The precision and intensity of the gunfire left witnesses in shock. One student described the scene as terrifying, noting that the attackers blocked the path of the victim’s car so effectively that there was virtually no room for escape. While the driver lost his life in the assault, two other occupants of the vehicle survived with injuries and were quickly moved to the University of Benin Health Centre for emergency treatment.
Law enforcement officers from the Ugbowo Divisional Police Headquarters arrived shortly after the shooting to secure the area and evacuate the victim’s remains. The Divisional Police Officer, SP Emmanuel, stated that while investigations are underway, details remain sketchy, and a formal statement will be released once more information is confirmed.
This tragic event comes amid rising security concerns within the university environment. Just a day prior to this shooting, another student reportedly escaped unharmed after being chased by an individual brandishing a machete near the Social Science Lecture Theatre. The recent wave of violence has left many students and faculty members on edge as they await further updates on safety measures within the campus vicinity.
