Wednesday, 30th June 2021: A 400-level student of the Department of Political Science, University of Benin, Austin Izu, has been shot dead by yet-to-be-identified gunmen in his friend’s off-campus hostel room on the Federal Girls College Road, Ugbowo.

CEOAFRICA gathered that the deceased, who sat his final examination last week, was alleged to have come from the upper floor of the hostel to visit his friend, Walter Emaka, who stays on the ground floor of the same hostel.

The gunmen were said to have come into the room and shot the deceased in the head, while Walter narrowly escaped with gunshot injuries.

A source in the school, who spoke on condition of anonymity, stated that the case was reported at the BDPA Police Station under the Ugbowo Division.

“I know the deceased. His name is Austin, a Political Science student, who signed out last week. He resided on Adolor Road. He just went to visit his friend when the incident happened. The case has been reported at the BDPA Police Station and his injured friend is on admission at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital,” the source stated.

When contacted, the Public Relations Officer, UNIBEN, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, said she learnt of the incident, but insisted that no student was killed.

“We learnt of the attack. The boy (Walter) is in hospital receiving attention. No student was killed,” she said.

However, the Edo State Police Public Relations Officer, SP Kontongs Bello, confirmed the incident adding that investigation was ongoing to arrest the perpetrators.

Bello stated, “The case was reported by someone in Ugbowo. He came to the station with the lifeless body of one Austin Izu.