The Edo State Police Command has confirmed the killing of a University of Benin student, identified as Alexander Omogiate, who was shot dead during a violent attack near the institution’s main gate at Ugbowo.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening when armed men reportedly ambushed a vehicle as it was exiting the university premises.
According to eyewitness accounts, masked attackers intercepted a Mercedes-Benz GLK, opened fire at close range, and fled the scene immediately after the shooting.
A witness said, “They shot him at close range, and there was no way he could have survived the attack. Two others in the vehicle were also injured and rushed to the hospital.”
Omogiate was said to have just finished his examination in the Department of Political Science about an hour before the attack. Three other occupants of the vehicle sustained gunshot injuries, while a female passerby was also struck by a stray bullet.
Police operatives from the Ugbowo Division later evacuated the body and rushed the injured victims to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital, where Omogiate was confirmed dead.
In a statement, Edo State Police Command spokesperson, CSP Eno Ikoedem, said the attack took place around 5pm on May 10, 2026.
“The occupants of the vehicle lowered the glass and opened fire on the victims before escaping to an unknown destination,” the statement said.
The command explained that the victims — Onwuke Blessed, Alexander Omogiate, and Chinenye Christian Mbagwu — were targeted while leaving the campus in a separate GLK vehicle. A passerby identified as Dorathy Ubah was also hit by a bullet.
Commissioner of Police, Monday Agbonika, has ordered a full investigation into the incident and directed operatives to track down the suspects.
The police also urged members of the public with useful information to come forward and assist ongoing investigations.
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Tension had reportedly risen on campus a day before the killing after another student narrowly escaped an attack by suspected hoodlums armed with machetes near the Social Science Lecture Theatre.
Meanwhile, the University of Benin management distanced itself from the incident, insisting it occurred outside the campus and was linked to suspected cult-related violence.
“The University of Benin has dissociated its staff and students from the violent clash outside the Ugbowo campus of the institution,” the management said.
“Preliminary reports indicate that the incident is a fallout of cult activities outside the campus and does not involve any university staff member or student.”
However, the situation escalated further after the Chairman of the university’s Cult Renunciation, Reconciliation, Rehabilitation and Interfaith Committee, Venerable Egbenusi Osazee David, resigned over alleged interference.
In his resignation letter, he claimed he had been threatened after forwarding evidence of the violence to the Vice-Chancellor.
“I wish to state plainly that I have not deleted the clips and shall not do so. A human life was lost, and any investigative process requires that evidence be preserved, not destroyed,” he said.
The university management dismissed the allegation, describing it as “spurious and unguided,” and insisted the Vice-Chancellor remained committed to maintaining peace and order on campus.
The institution further stated that Egbenusi’s resignation was welcomed, alleging inefficiency in his role, while assuring students that academic activities remained safe and uninterrupted.