Fear and anxiety have gripped the University of Benin community after unidentified gunmen reportedly shot and killed a student near the institution’s main gate at Ugbowo, leaving two other students injured in a late-night attack.
The tragic incident, which occurred on Sunday night, reportedly involved masked gunmen who opened fire on a moving JLK Mercedes-Benz vehicle as the victims attempted to leave the university environment. Eyewitnesses said the attackers shot directly at the occupants before fleeing the scene immediately after the attack.
According to students who witnessed the incident, the deceased had allegedly completed an examination in the Department of Political Science barely an hour before he was attacked. The victim, whose identity had not been officially released as of the time of filing this report, was said to have died on the spot after sustaining gunshot wounds at close range.
Two other occupants of the vehicle survived the attack but suffered varying degrees of injuries. They were reportedly rushed to the university’s health centre for emergency medical attention shortly after the incident.
A student who spoke on the development described the scene as terrifying, noting that panic spread across the campus area immediately gunshots were heard. The witness added that the nature of the attack suggested the assailants specifically targeted the victims.
Security operatives attached to the Ugbowo Divisional Police Headquarters later arrived at the scene to evacuate the remains of the deceased student and restore calm to the area.
The Divisional Police Officer, identified simply as SP Emmanuel, confirmed that the police had been informed about the incident, although he stated that details surrounding the attack were still unclear at the early stage of investigation.
As of Monday morning, the Nigeria Police Force in Edo State had yet to release an official statement regarding the killing or possible motives behind the attack.
The incident has further heightened security concerns among students and residents around the university community, especially following another reported attack scare on campus a day earlier.
In a separate development, another student was reportedly chased by an armed individual wielding a machete around the Social Science Lecture Theatre on Saturday. The student, however, escaped without injuries after raising alarm.
Students have since begun calling for improved surveillance and stronger security presence around the campus and its surrounding areas to prevent further attacks and ensure the safety of members of the university community.
The latest incident adds to growing concerns over insecurity within tertiary institutions across Nigeria, with students increasingly becoming vulnerable to violent attacks, cult-related clashes, and criminal activities around campuses.
Many students have also taken to social media to mourn the deceased and demand urgent intervention from both university authorities and security agencies to forestall another tragedy within the institution.
University authorities are yet to issue an official statement on the killing as investigations into the incident continue.
