Row over UNIBEN student’s death

The death of a final year student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN), Ibrahim Momodu, has sparked a row. The police said he was a robber, but his family disagrees, saying the deceased was a victim of extra-judicial killing. GILBERT ALASA (400-Level Foreign Languages) and LEONARD KOLAWOLE (300-Level Electrical and Electronics Engineering) report.

The downpour that day in Benin City, the Edo State capital, could not stop the enraged students. They could not even be deterred by the acrid smell of the canisters of tear gas fired by the police. The demonstrators moved round the ancient city, chanting solidarity songs in a synchronised voice: “We want justice for Ibrahim Momodu”.

The University of Benin (UNIBEN) students took to the streets on Monday to protest the alleged killing of Ibrahim by Mrs Carol Afegbua, a Chief Suprintendent of Police (CSP) and the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Ogida Police Station, Benin.

The deceased was a final year student of Science Laboratory Technology. The circumstances surrounding his death appear hazy. Many are asking how he died.

Ibrahim was allegedly killed by the police led by CSP Afegbua on Monday, May 27 on his way back from where he was undergoing his Industrial Attachment. His remains were allegedly hurriedly buried in a shallow grave at Third Cemetery, Benin by policemen, who approached Egor Local Government Area for permission to do so.

Maureen Eweka, his girlfriend, said the deceased spoke with her on the phone at 8pm that fateful day. “He told me that he was riding on a bike and that he would be with me shortly. A few minutes later, sounds of gunshot rent the air. I called him immediately to know where he was but I could not get through to him again. His phone rang endlessly.”

When the victim’s family visited the Ogida Police Station last Sunday, the police, allegedly described the late Ibrahim as one of the robbers that specialised in using motorcycles to rob Ogida residents.

Another twist was added to the incident when the Edo State Broadcasting Service (EBS), on its Crime Watch programme, portrayed the late Ibrahim as a taxi driver and robber, who was killed on a robbery scene.

A member of the family, who spoke to our correspondents, said the police were exploring all avenues to cover up their crime. He said the victim could not ride a motorcycle nor could he drive a car.

Maimuna, the younger sister of the deceased, told our correspondents: “I was in Abraka, Delta State on May 29 when my mother called that my brother had been missing for two days. I know my brother never slept outside. So, I knew something was amiss. I called his number and a policeman picked up the phone. I requested to speak with my brother. But he said my brother was involved in a gun duel with the police around our house. Later, we learnt that he had been killed and buried by the policemen.”

Rebecca Idehen, the deceased’s aunt, told our correspondents that CSP Afegbua confirmed to her that the late Ibrahim was arrested on a bike around 8pm with a gun at the Textile Mill Junction and killed during a struggle with the policemen that were trying to effect his arrest.

Idehen said: “Mrs Carol told me that she shot the boy in the leg so as not to pose security threat to her men. We later discovered that Ibrahim bled to death before getting to the station, which is why they went to bury him immediately.”

CSP Afegbua defended her action when she wrote on her Facebook page: “Does this portray the image of a student…guns and riding of an unregistered motorcycle at 22:30hrs attempting to shoot a policeman, a new syllabus for university students? Let’s face reality and tell ourselves the truth, no sane human being takes pleasure in taking the life of an innocent citizen.”

Also, a statement by the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Moses Eguavoen, a Deputy Superintendent (DSP), said: “On May 27, 2013 about 8:20pm, operatives at Ogida Division led by the DPO while on routine patrol within the area intercepted a cyclist and another with an unregistered motorcycle at Obayuwana Junction on Siluko Road, Benin City.

“The suspect immediately brought out a Russian made cut-to-size double barrel gun, but policemen, noticing his action, responded swiftly and shot the suspect later known to be Ibrahim Momodu who died on his way to the hospital.’’

He added that eight live cartridges, one unregistered red Qlink motorcycle, two mobile phones and a bag containing the firearm were recovered from the suspects.

CAMPUSLIFE learnt that the remains of the student were buried on May 28 at Third Cemetery after a “permission document” was obtained from the Egor Local Government Area. But when our correspondent visited the Egor Local Government Secretariat on Tuesday, none of the council officials was willing to comment.

But Kadiri Momodu, a cousin of the deceased, told our correspondents that the late Ibrahim could not drive his mother’s car not to talk of driving a cab. “So, we wonder how he became a taxi driver overnight. We are asking the Edo State government, the Commissioner of Police, the Commissioner for Justice and well-meaning Nigerians to help us. This is another extra-judicial killing by the police,” he said.

Idehen said: “Ibrahim was neither a taxi driver nor a motorcycle rider. He was on industrial attachment at a pharmaceutical firm on Murtala Mohammed Way in Benin. My brother is not an armed robber. He had never stolen anything before. I know he didn’t die well. I can see him weeping wherever he is now. Nigerians must help us to demand justice for this innocent boy.’’

Students disrupted activities in Benin during the protest that started at the Akenzua Cultural Centre. The demonstration was led by the president of the UNIBEN Students’ Union Government (SUG), Osifo Osasere.

Osifo said the protest became necessary given the role the police played in the “extra-judicial” killing of the student. He told the students: “As fellow students, we are aggrieved by the barbaric act of the DPO. We cannot fold our arms and allow some narrow-minded persons to destroy the future of our generation. We will continue to rise against all oppressors of students.”

The protesters moved to the Edo State Government House to register their grievances. Addressing the students, the Deputy Chief of Staff to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Stephen Idehenre, urged them to be peaceful and conduct themselves responsibly. He said: “The government is not happy with this situation and we will ensure a proper and thorough investigation. We are not happy about it. I want to assure you that the governor is aware of this incident and he has since swung into action.”

The Commissioner of Police, Folusho Adebanjo, said he would not address the aggrieved students because of their rowdiness. He requested that the students appoint delegates to meet with him. Swiftly, the protesters rejected his offer and continued to chant anti-police songs, such as: “CSP Carol is a ritualist’’; “Killer police must be brought to book”, among others.

In a telephone interview with our correspondents, the UNIBEN Public Relations Officer (PRO), Mr H.O. Osarenren, described the incident as unfortunate, adding that the university would await the police investigations before taking a stand.

Osama Adodo, 500-Level Science Laboratory Technology and the deceased’s class representative, described the late Ibrahim as easygoing. He said: “Ibrahim was a hardworking student. He related with everyone and he was widely admired for his neatness.”

The Commissioner for Justice, Henry Idahangbo, urged the bereaved family to remain calm, saying the government would investigate the matter.