There was pandemonium at the Ugbowo Campus of the University of Benin on Friday when a 300-level student of the Department of Chemistry, Gbenedio Ejyroghene, was gruesomely murdered by unknown gunmen.
PUNCH Metro learnt that Ejyroghene, popularly called “Kazito,” was taking part in a jeans carnival organised for final-year students of the Faculty of Physical Sciences at the 1000-Lecture Theatre field of the faculty when he was shot in the head by the assailants around 7pm.
A source in the institution, who pleaded anonymity, told our correspondent that the late chemistry student was on probation until his death and was often spotted in the final-year class of the department.
He said, “He was in 300 level and was on probation. But he was not always in his class.
“A final-year jeans carnival was being held on that day for the faculty and students were having fun. So, he joined them. Suddenly, we heard a gunshot.
“We didn’t even know that he was the one that was shot. It was later that we saw him on the ground.”
The Public Relations Officer of the institution, Harris Osarenren, who confirmed the incident, said that the remains of the deceased had been deposited at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital.
He also disclosed that the case had been reported to the Ugbowo Police State while investigation had commenced.
He said,“The incident which took place at the Ugbowo Campus of the University has been reported at the Ugbowo Police Station, while the body has been deposited at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, Benin City.
“Investigation is on-going by the Nigeria Police Force to unravel the circumstances surrounding his death.”
Efforts to reach the Public Relations Unit of the Edo State Police Command, however, proved abortive at the time of filing the report.