The Edo State Police Command says preliminary investigation has revealed that the death of a student of the University of Benin, Obokowo Desmond Rukevwe, was caused by a rivalry war between two cult groups.
According to the command’s spokesperson, Chidi Nwabuzor, preliminary investigations revealed that Desmond belonged to the Maphite confraternity and was attacked and killed by members of the Black Axe confraternity.
The police said arrests are yet to be made in connection to the incident.
Nwabuzor said, “The Divisional Police Officer in charge of Ugbowo Division Benin City, Edo State, received a telephone call from the Chief Security Officer of the University of Benin, Benin City Edo State, that a lifeless body of a young man was found on campus by Hall 3 area and immediately the DPO mobilised his men and moved down to the scene where they found a lifeless body.
“On close watch, they discovered some items such as national ID card, student ID card, voter’s card, two wrist watches belonging to the deceased.
“Information revealed that the deceased name was Obokowo Desmond Rukevwe and further preliminary investigation revealed that he belonged to Maphite confraternity and due to rivalry war between the Maphite and the Black Axe, the Black Axe members attacked him and killed him on campus.
“These were the investigation. No arrest made so far. Investigation is on and as soon as we make progress we will equally come out to tell members of the public,” the Command’s spokesperson added.
The confirmation from the police followed the university authorities’ condemnation of the brutal killing of the final-year student mostly known as Mayor on Monday night in a shooting said to have occurred in one of the school’s halls of residence.
A statement issued by the office of the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Lilian Salami, on Tuesday, urged students to stay peaceful as the security agencies are making strong efforts to find the gunman and make him face the wrath of the law.
She assured the students and their parents that the security operatives within the campus will ensure such incidents do not happen again.
