Edo State Governor Godwin Obaseki has ordered the Nigeria Police Force to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the death of Vera Omozuwa, a 100-level student of the University of Benin in a church hall.
Omozuwa, a Microbiology student of the institution, had reportedly gone to read at the Redeemed Christian Church of God in Benin, Edo State, when she was attacked and raped.
She was said to have died three days later while on admission in a hospital.
Obaseki said via his verified Twitter account that the police had been mandated to identify, arrest and prosecute anyone found culpable in her death.
He added that the Violence Against Persons Law which is in effect in Edo should be applied.
The governor said, “Using this law, we would ensure to investigate what exactly transpired and deal decisively with the those found complicit in the dastardly act, whoever they might be.”
The governor’s order came just as the management of UNIBEN decried the report of the rape and subsequent murder of one of its students, Vera Omozuwa.
The institution’s Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, in a statement by the school”s Public Relations Officer, Dr Benedicta Ehanire, described the news as sad and shocking.
The VC said the actions were condemnable and should not be condoned by any society.
Salami said the current COVID-19 pandemic was already hard on everyone and that compounding it with inflicting additional pain on any family was a wicked act.
While commiserating with the bereaved family on the loss of their daughter, Salami prayed God to grant her soul peaceful rest.
The vice chancellor urged students of the institution and indeed all young people to be wary of the company they keep and the places they visit.