One Mr Stephen Odje, a student of Delta State University Abraka, of the Department of Medical Biochemistry has been killed by unknown gunmen and two others taken away.
This happened on Sunday at about 9.30 p.m. while the students were on their way to Abraka for 2020/2021 academic session resumption.
According to sources, apart from Odje who lost his life during the attack that took place at Oria, a community that is less than 15 minutes drive to the university community, Mr. Divine Omajuwa of Geology Department and Miss Hamza Hussiena Jennifer of Pharmacology Department in DELSU, who were returning back to school were taken away by the gunmen.
The reason why Odje was shot dead on the spot is still unknown.
The University Management while reacting to the news, condemned the gruesome murder of Mr. Odje and the kidnap of the two other students.
According to a statement signed by the Dean, Students’ Affairs, Professor Chukwujindu Iwegbue, he called on “the relevant security agencies and the general public to step up actions to ensure the immediate release and safe rescue of the kidnapped students,”
He added that the perpetrators of the heinous crime against innocent students of the university must be brought to book.
Meanwhile, the Student Union Government of DELSU, Abraka, has described the occurrence as “horrifying and unacceptable” saying that the students and the entire university community have become targets of attack, murder and kidnap by hoodlums parading the state.
“It is also painful to the entire student body that when such incidents occur, law enforcement agencies within and around the State have not done enough to bring the perpetrators to book,” the union said.
In a statement signed by the SUG President, Comrade Mukolo Ogelenya Solomon, he warned that the incidence “may lead to a breakdown of law and order within and around Abraka and its environs and the entire state in general if urgent steps are not taken to effect the immediate and unconditional release of the kidnapped victims.”
A 24-hour ultimatum was, therefore, issued to all law enforcement agencies in the state to swing into action to effect the unconditional release of the kidnapped students.
The students’ body said that “failure to do so will result to students’ unrest within Delta State University in particular and the entire state in general.”
At the time of filing this report, the whereabouts of the kidnapped students were still unknown.
When contacted, Acting Police Public Relations Officer, DSP Edafe Bright, confirmed the incidence, but said he does not have enough details yet.