BENIN CITY — The Edo State Police Command has launched a massive, coordinated manhunt for a gang of armed assailants who executed a brazen, bloody attack right outside the main gate of the University of Benin (UNIBEN). The shocking Sunday night ambush resulted in the tragic death of one student, left his companions severely wounded, and injured an innocent female passerby.
The Interception and Firefight at Ugbowo
According to an official press release issued by the command, the violent encounter unfolded at approximately 5:00 PM (1700hrs) along the busy University of Benin axis in Ugbowo, Benin City.
Preliminary forensic and field investigations revealed that three male occupants identified as Onwuke Blessed, Alexander Omogiate, and Chinenye Christian Mbagwu were driving out of the institution's main gate in a luxury Mercedes-Benz GLK. Suddenly, an unidentified white Mercedes-Benz GLK aggressively intercepted their path, blocking them in. In a matter of seconds, the occupants of the white vehicle wound down their glasses, pulled out firearms, and opened a ruthless volley of gunfire directly into the victims' car before speeding off into the night.
The bullets tore through the vehicle, heavily injuring all three young men. The high-velocity gunfire also struck an innocent female bystander walking near the university entrance, who was later identified as Dorathy Ubah.
One Confirmed Dead as Governor Demands Justice
Upon receiving distress calls, tactical police operatives were swiftly mobilized to the bloody scene. The emergency teams immediately evacuated all four victims and rushed them to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) for critical medical intervention.
Tragically, Alexander Omogiate was pronounced dead upon arrival by the clinical doctor on duty. The remaining victims, including the female passerby, are currently admitted and responding to emergency treatment for their gunshot wounds.
The state executive has reacted heavily to the campus insecurity. The Executive Governor of Edo State, Monday Okpebholo, has vehemently condemned the targeted killing, describing it as an unacceptable breach of peace, and has vowed to use every state resource to ensure that absolute justice is served for the families of the victims.
CP Agbonika Orders Full-Scale Investigation
The Edo State Commissioner of Police, CP Monday Agbonika, has officially directed the Command’s State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) to take over the case. Signed by the Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eno Ikoedem, the statement confirmed that a full-scale tracking operation is underway to unmask the identity of the fleeing perpetrators.
The Command issued a stern, uncompromising warning to secret cult fraternities, campus hoodlums, and syndicates operating around higher institutions in Edo State to immediately pack up their operations, reiterating that the police remain completely resolute in their quest to sanitize the state.
The police are appealing directly to the public, student body, and local residents who might have witnessed the white GLK or captured dashcam footage during the 5:00 PM rush hour to forward intelligence to the nearest station, promising that every tipoff will be managed with the strictest confidentiality.
