UNIBEN declares lecture-free day over student’s death in hostel
By Sodiq Adelakun
Yesterday, the manage ment of the University of Benin, Edo State declared a lecture-free day over the killing of a final year student, Desmond Rukevwe Obukhowo, popularly called Mayor.
The deceased was a 400-level student of the department of public administration and was shot in the face at close range at about 9pm on Monday. He was also the Kegite chief of the school before he was killed.
In a press statement on Monday, the Public Relations Officer of the school, Dr Benedicta Ehanire appealed to the university community for calm, while noting that efforts were being made to unravel the motive behind the killing.
She said, “Tuesday 4th April, 2023, has been declared lecture-free by the management of the University of Benin following the traumatic murder incident which occurred at the University’s campus on Monday night.
“The Management further appeals to members of the University community to remain calm as efforts are being intensified to ensure the safety of staff and students while security agencies are investigating the sad incident.
“Management again prays to God to comfort the family and colleagues of the deceased and to grant his soul peaceful rest,” she added.
Earlier, the management had called for calm assuring that the culprit would be brought to book as the school’s internal security unit was working with the police to ensure that such a dastardly act does not happen in the university again.
Recall that the University’s Public Relations Officer, Dr. Daisy Ehanire, who withheld the real name and department of the deceased, commiserated with the family and colleagues of the late student.
Ehanire while pleading with other students to be calm, noted that the police and other security agencies are working hard to fish out and arrest the suspected runaway killer.
This is even as she disclosed that the authorities of the University are also working closely with the internal security units in ensuring that such dastardly incident does not occur again within the institution’s campuses.
