A leader of National Association of Nigerian Students, Bayelsa axis, Perewari Benjamin and seven other undergraduates have been arrested by the Bayelsa State Police command for alleged robbery and murder.
Benjamin is a 400-level student of Niger Delta University, Wilberforce Island, Bayelsa state and he and other suspects were paraded on Monday by the police.
Others are Asari Enagob, 400 level; Suoguai Bina, 500 level; Ibe Ogbonna, 300 level; Igbanibo Tari, 400 level; Ekperi Kenneth, 400 level; Kemefie Ebimene, 200 level, all of the Niger Delta University while Chukwuma Lawrence, an HND II student at the Imo State Polytechnic was the eight suspect.
According to the State’s commissioner of Police, Mr. Asuquo Amba, three drivers Ayo Kehinde, Jamiu Salahudeen and Nwanya Chinonso – reported to the police that the suspects (students) hijacked their vehicles and robbed them at gunpoint on November 26.
On the incident that led to the death of the unnamed student of Federal University, Otuoke, Amba said, “The incident occurred at the Zone B Election for Coordinators of NANS at the Federal University, Otuoke, Bayelsa State, between November 25 and November 26.
“Students representing universities and higher institutions in the South-South Zone resorted to the use of firearms, which led to the death of the student. The students also involved themselves in robbery against innocent citizens.
“This leaves one to wonder about the future of our great nation. The development calls for a drastic action to curb this menace and a complete reorientation of our youths.”
One of the drivers, Kehinde narrated his experience on that day.
He said, “Four of the students came to Amassoma Park on Saturday, around 10am and said they needed three buses. We agreed for N8,000 per bus. When they boarded the buses, they said they wanted to pick some persons from Biogbolo.
“When we got there (Biogbolo), they said there were some persons at Ebis they wanted to pick. By the time we got to Ebis, we picked some persons. After that, I asked them to pay my money. They said their boss was on Isaac Boro Expressway and that when we got there, they would pay. By the time we got there, we did not see anybody. They said their boss was in the Aritalin area. It was then I told them I was not going to Aritalin.
“One of them said I was talking rubbish and he slapped me. As he slapped me, others joined him and they started beating me and my brothers. One of them dipped his hand into my pocket and took the N50,000 I wanted to send to my wife in Lagos to pay my children’s school fees. He took the money and my ATM card, phone and seized my vehicle key. One of them brought out a gun and used the butt to hit my head.”
He said he was in that condition when he sighted a patrol van of operatives of the State Anti-Robbery Squad approaching and he struggled to stop them and narrated the happenings to them. THis led to the arrest of the suspects.
