Benue erupts in protest over police killing of student

DDM News

A wave of anger swept through Makurdi, the Benue State capital, following the tragic killing of a young student.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) gathered that Emmanuella Ahenjir, a 23-year-old final-year student of the Federal University, Wukari, was the victim.

She was allegedly shot by police officers while riding in a vehicle on Friday morning.

The incident reportedly occurred at Wurukum roundabout, a busy junction in the heart of Makurdi.

The vehicle was said to be coming from the Gyado Villa area when the police opened fire.

The officers involved remain unidentified, fueling further outrage among the public.

In response, youths poured into the streets, demanding accountability and justice for the slain student.

The protest, led by renowned gender rights advocate Ukan Kurugh, drew hundreds of demonstrators.

Placards bearing slogans like “End Police Brutality” and “Justice for Emmanuella” were seen in the crowd.

The Wurukum roundabout, now a flashpoint of anger, was the epicenter of the peaceful protest.

Eyewitnesses told DDM that traffic was disrupted for hours as the protest swelled in numbers.

Protesters called for an immediate and independent investigation into the killing.

They also demanded the arrest and prosecution of the police officers involved.

Local civil society groups have condemned the killing, describing it as senseless and unjustifiable.

Many activists have pointed to a troubling pattern of police misconduct and abuse in Nigeria.

Benue residents say they are tired of repeated cases of extra-judicial killings by security forces.

“The lives of our young people should not be taken so cheaply,” one protester shouted into a megaphone.

Police brutality remains a sore issue in Nigeria, despite the EndSARS movement that swept the country in 2020.

That campaign led to the disbandment of SARS, a notorious police unit known for violence and extortion.

Yet, rights groups say not much has changed in the police force since the EndSARS protests ended.

In Emmanuella’s case, community members insist that the state government must intervene directly.

Calls have been made to the Benue State Commissioner of Police to immediately identify the perpetrators.

So far, there has been no official statement from the police command regarding the incident.

Ukan Kurugh told DDM that the protests will continue until justice is served.

He said that the killing of Emmanuella is not an isolated incident but part of a systemic problem.

Students from several tertiary institutions across Benue are also planning solidarity protests in the coming days.

Activists have warned that failure to address this incident will deepen mistrust between the public and the police.

Many are now pushing for body cameras, community policing, and reforms in police recruitment and training.

Emmanuella was said to be a brilliant student with aspirations of becoming a lawyer.

Her friends and classmates have taken to social media to mourn her untimely death.

“She was full of life, focused, and kind,” one of her lecturers said in a tribute posted online.

Diaspora Digital Media (DDM) will continue to monitor developments around the case.

As the protests rage on, pressure mounts on the authorities to act swiftly and transparently.

For many Nigerians, Emmanuella’s death is a chilling reminder that police reform remains an urgent national priority.

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