Police – Campus Gist

UNIBEN Staff Killed, 1 Injured As Police Chase Driver Over N100 Bribe

by admin on July 22, 2020

Dr. Stella Okotie, a staff of the University of Benin, was on Tuesday sent to early grave when a commercial bus driver running away from police extortion rammed into her.

CAMPUS GIST reports that the incident happened in Benin City at about 6:30pm along the ever-busy Benin-Lagos expressway, close to the UNIBEN main gate.

The deceased was until her demise, a lecturer at the UNIBEN faculty of Education. Aside Okotie, one person was said to have also been killed with another sustaining some injuries.

The victims were killed while a commercial bus driver was running away from the police officers who had earlier flagged his vehicle down, demanding N100 bribe.

One of the officers was said to have jumped into the moving bus and engaged in a physical struggle with the bus driver, dragging the steering wheel in the process.

According to an eyewitness, the late UNIBEN staff was standing at the walkway alongside her husband, Dr. Williams Okotie, also a staff of UNIBEN and her son when the bus hit her and their stationery UNIBEN water supply van.

“The police officers were pursuing a commercial bus in quest for money leading to a physical struggle between one of the officers and driver of the vehicle,” he told CAMPUS GIST.

“While the police was struggling the steering wheel with the driver, the bus ram into Dr. Okotie who was standing on the walk way just by the side of her vehicle killing her on the spot.”

Following the incident, the police officers fled the scene leaving behind one of their colleague who was beaten to pulp and almost left for dead by angry mob but for the quick intervention of a woman believed to be his wife.

Consequently, residents and passersby barricaded the ever-busy new Lagos road right in front of the UNIBEN Ugbowo main gate, causing heavy traffic gridlock for hours.

The Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor could not be reached for comments. The university management is yet to issue a statement as at the time of filing this report.

In response to incident, the UNIBEN medical students are embarking on a solidarity protest on Wednesday (today) against the killing of the mother of their former colleague.

A statement issued by Comr. Goodluck Eghosa Osemwenkhae, Director of Information, Media and Publicity, on behalf of the union, said the protest would cover the police headquarters and the Edo state government house.

News

UNIBEN urges Police to intensify investigation on student’s rape, murder

by admin on July 7, 2020

Authorities of the University of Benin has expressed concern over the slow phase of the Police investigation into the rape and gruesome murder of a student, late Uwaila Omozuwa.

In a statement, issued by Dr Benedicta Ehanire, the Public Relations Officer of the institution, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Lilian Salami, had complained about the slow phase of investigation when she visited the Edo State Police Commissioner, Mr Johnson Kokumo in Benin City on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that late Omozuwa, 22, a 100 level Microbiology student, was reportedly raped and murdered in a church in Benin City on Wednesday, May 27.

She later died at the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) on Sunday, May 31.

Salami appealed to the Police to support the institution in crime prevention and management.

“My heart is still heavy, especially, because the circumstances of Miss Omozuwa’s death are yet to be unravelled and the perpetrators brought to book,’’ she said.

The VC urged the Police to do all in their power to ensure that no stone is left unturned in their investigation of the crime.

In his response, the Police Commissioner described the DNA and Forensic Centre of the University of Benin as one of the best in the country.

Kokumo told the VC that efforts were being made to bring the culprits to justice with the arrest of two key suspects.

He said that the Police would be happy to collaborate with the university in training its officers in forensic.

(NAN)

News

Police rates UNIBEN DNA and Forensics Centre as best in Nigeria

by admin on July 6, 2020

The Nigerian police has described the DNA and Forensics Centre of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) as one of the best in the country, Campus Gist reports.

The police, on Monday, also expressed its readiness to partner with the prestigious federal higher institution to train officers of the Force in Forensics.

Edo state police commissioner, Mr. Johnson Babatunde Kokumo made the declaration while receiving UNIBEN vice chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami at the Force headquarters, in Benin city.

A statement made available to Campus Gist signed by Public Relations Officer of the institution, Benedicta Ehanire, Ph.D, said the VC was at the police office to solicit support in crime prevention and management in the university.

Prof. Salami, however, used the occasion to express concern that the gruesome rape and murder of the 100 level Microbiology student of the institution, Miss Uwaila Omozuwa, in a church in Benin city, is yet to be unravelled.

She said hearts were still heavy, especially, because the circumstances of Miss Omozuwa’s death are yet to be unravelled and the perpetrators brought to book.

Professor Salami, therefore, urged the police to do all in their power to ensure that no stone is left unturned in their investigation of the crime.

On his part, the police commissioner intimated the vice chancellor with efforts made so far to bring the culprits to justice with the arrest of two key suspects.

Campus Gist gathered that the vice chancellor was accompanied on the visit by principal officers of the University.