A yet-to-be-identified student of the University of Benin was killed on Sunday evening after suspected armed men attacked him at the university’s main gate in Ugbowo while he was driving out in a GLK Mercedes Benz.
The incident occurred at the campus exit point as the victim, who was driving a vehicle with registration number Lagos AAA 601 HT, was reportedly ambushed by masked gunmen in another GLK Mercedes-Benz who blocked his path before opening fire at close range and fleeing the scene, abandoning their own vehicle.
Eyewitnesses said the attackers struck suddenly and escaped immediately after the shooting.
The victim was said to have completed his Political Science examinations about an hour before the attack.
Two other occupants in the vehicle survived the assault but sustained injuries and were taken to the University of Benin Health Care Centre for treatment.
A student who witnessed the incident said, “They blocked them in their own vehicle and shot at them at close range, and there was no way he could have survived the attack. The gunshots were massive and terrifying. Two others who were in the vehicles were also injured and rushed to the school’s health care centre.”
Security operatives from the Ugbowo Divisional Police Headquarters later arrived at the scene and evacuated the body of the deceased.
The Divisional Police Officer, SP Emmanuel, said details were still unclear at the time and that an official statement would be released later.
In a separate development, another student reportedly escaped unhurt after being chased with a machete at the Social Science Lecture Theatre on Saturday.