CP orders investigation as stray bullet kills Benue varsity student during stop-and-search

Ms Anene said the police commissioner assured friends and family of the deceased of his commitment to unravel the truth.

Olumayowa Samuel • May 17, 2025

Security checkpoint[Credit: Businessday NG]

Benue State Commissioner of Police Emenari Ifeanyi has ordered an investigation into the death of Emmanuella Ahenjir, a final-year student of the Kwararafa University in Wukari, Taraba State.

Spokesperson for the command, Catherine Anene, confirmed the death of the student in a statement on Saturday.

It was gathered that the student, who was among the passengers in a vehicle, died after being hit by a stray bullet from an officer during a stop-and-search operation at Wurukum roundabout, Makurdi, around 11:00 a.m. on Friday.

The police spokesperson said, “On 16/5/2025 at about 4:00 a.m. a radio message was received from a police team deployed at Duku park, Wurukum that the team flagged down a vehicle coming from Benuelinks area but the driver turned back, drove through the opposite lane shooting sporadically at them but they responded with a shot and the driver drove away.

“The police were on the trail of the vehicle until about 10:00 a.m. this morning when information was received that a lady named Emmanuella Ahenjir, a student of Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, had died at Benue State University Teaching Hospital from a gunshot. Upon arrival at the hospital, the detectives were briefed about the deceased and the corpse deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy.”

Ms Anene quoted Apase Keghter, an occupant in the vehicle, as saying they were returning from club activities at Newcastle Event Centre when they drove on the opposite lane and passed the checkpoint without stopping, but did not shoot. Mr Keghter was seen at the hospital.

“They were shot by the police, but they drove to Welfare quarters with the victim. They stopped when they noticed a flat tyre and called a commercial vehicle that took them to the hospital. His belongings, the exhibit car and other occupants of the said vehicle are nowhere to be found at the moment,” Ms Anene added.

Ms Anene said the police commissioner assured friends and family of the deceased of his commitment to unravel the truth and ensure the rule of law prevails.

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