Palpable anxiety has gripped the University of Benin (UNIBEN), in Edo State, following the gruesome murder of a yet-to-be identified male student of the institution, by unknown assailants.
metrowatchxtra.com reliably gathered that the final year student was murdered Monday night in cold blood right inside his hostel room in the popular Hall 3 hall of residence on campus.
Fear and apprehension enveloped the University community, especially students living on campus, soon after the lifeless body of the student was discovered by his colleagues.
It was gathered that the deceased with ‘Mayor’ as alias, was the head of popular social group, Kegite, on campus. Friends and colleagues describe him as a ”jolly good fellow.”
A video clip exclusively obtained by metrowatchxtra.com Monday night, show that the deceased’s face was mercilessly slashed by the unknown assailants.
In what can best be described as a mystery, no one is yet able to come up with how the assailants gained entry into the campus’ hostel, carried out the dastardly act and escaped uncaught.
A male student who spoke to metrowatchxtra on the strict condition of anonymity, claimed that security in UNIBEN had deteriorated with little or no conscious security of students living on campus.
“Ever since Management brought in Solar (a private security firm) and discarded their armed security men, security surveillance on campus drastically reduced, even the porters drafted to man the hostels are elderly people who could barely chase a rat,” the student said.
On her part, a female student, who gave her name simply as Rejoice, told metrowatchxtra.com that her friend, Joy (not real name) was almost raped at a time when they went for night reading.
“The school promised us security, that is why most of us chose to stay on campus not like it’s convenient. What do you tell a parent whose son was put under your care but murdered in cold blood right under your nose? Who could be next? We are no longer safe!
“Let’s say the truth, the school is too exposed, we don’t feel safe no anymore – anybody, I mean, any outsider can just stroll into campus and even enter the hostel without being screened by security, they (security) don’t even take note of strange faces,” she claimed.
Efforts to obtain comment from the University Management proved abortive. As at the time of filing this report, the institution was yet to formally react to the development.
Also, spokesperson to the Edo State Police Command, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the police headquarters were yet to be briefed on the matter.
However, a statement endorsed by spokesperson for the University’s Students’ Union, Gerald Nnadi, advised the students to remain calm, as the authorities have been informed on the development.
“All students of the University of Benin are advised to remain calm and stay indoors,” he said, adding, ”If you are not on campus you can stay wherever you are. The relevant authorities have been informed and they are putting all hands on deck to bring normalcy (sic).”
