There was palpable tension in Oria, a nearby community to Delta State University (DELSU), Abraka, as unknown gunmen shot a student of the school and kidnapped two others.
Oasis Magazine (OM) reports that Odje Stephen of the Department of Medical Biochemistry was on Sunday shot dead at about 9.30pm by gunmen on his way to Abraka to resume the 2020/2021 academic session.
According to sources, apart from Odje who lost his life during the attack that took place at Oria, Divine Omajuwa of Geology Department and Miss Hamza Hussiena Jennifer of Pharmacology Department who were returning to the school were whisked away by the gunmen.
Reason why Odje was shot dead on the spot is still unknown.
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Reacting to the ugly news, the University Management condemned in its entirety the gruesome murder of Mr. Odje Stephen and the kidnap of Divine and Jennifer.
A statement signed by the Dean, Students’ Affairs, Professor Chukwujindu Iwegbue, called on security agencies and the general public to step up actions to ensure the safe release of the abducted students, adding that the perpetrators of the heinous crime against innocent students of the University must be brought to book.
The university also condoled with the family of the deceased.
Meanwhile, the Student Union Government (SUG) of the university has described as “horrifying and unacceptable” that students and the entire university community have become targets of attack, murder and kidnap by hoodlums parading the state.
The body said it is sad that law enforcement agencies within and around the state had not done enough to bring perpetrators of such dastardly acts to book.
The statement, signed by the SUG President, Comrade Mukolo Ogelenya Solomon, warned that the incidence might lead to a breakdown of law and order ‘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 secure the unconditional release of the kidnapped students and “failure to do so will result to students’ unrest within Delta State University in particular and the entire state in general”.
The student leader expressed condolence to the family of the slain student, the students of the Department of Medical Biochemistry and staff and students of the institution.
When contacted, Acting Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Edafe Bright, confirmed the incidence but said details were still sketchy.