BENUE State Police Command has confirmed the death of a final-year student of Kwararafa University in Wukari, Taraba State, identified as Ahenjir Emmanuella, killed by a stray bullet from a policeman.
The command has also ordered a detailed investigation into the death of the final year student allegedly shot dead by a police officer on stop and search duty.
Friends and families of the deceased had on Friday accused the police of allegedly shooting to death the final year student.
It was gathered that the student, who was with her friends, was shot by a police officer during a stop-and-search operation in Makurdi, the Benue State capital.
Our correspondent gathered that the incident took place at about 11am on Friday, around Wurukum roundabout, Makurdi.
It was further learnt that police personnel from the Benue State Command were on a routine stop-and-search operation when one of the officers suddenly opened fire on a commercial vehicle conveying passengers, including the victim,, resulting in her being killed.
A friend of the late Emmanuella, Igbor Iorbo, had told journalists earlier in Makurdi that Emmanuella was returning to school in Wukari in Taraba State before the incident occurred.
Iorbo, who narrated how her friend was killed by officers of the Nigeria Police from “E” Division, demanded an immediate investigation into the brutal killing of the innocent lady.
She said, “We are not asking for much, only justice. The officers responsible must be identified and handed over to the state command for immediate and transparent investigation.
“Lives must not continue to be lost at the hands of those sworn to protect us. This must end now.
“As I speak with you, the police adamantly refuse to speak about the situation.”
But in a statement issued by the command’s spokesperson, Catherine Anene, on Friday night, it was stated that at about 4 am of the same day, police received a distress call and promptly deployed a team at Duku park, Wurukum, Makurdi.
According to her, the police team flagged down a vehicle coming from Benue Links area within Wurukum, adding that the driver, rather than stop, turned back and drove through the opposite lane, shooting sporadically at the team.
Anene said in the statement that police responded with a shot while the driver drove away.
The statement read in parts, “The police were on the trail of the vehicle until about 10 am Friday 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 was deposited at the hospital morgue for autopsy.
“One Apase Keghter, who was also an occupant of the vehicle, was seen at the hospital and invited for questioning.”
The PPRO said that the occupant narrated how they, including the deceased, had gone for club activities at Newcastle Event Centre and were on their way back when they drove on the opposite lane and passed the checkpoint without stopping, but did not shoot.
Anene, who said that the occupant of the vehicle accused police of shooting the deceased, said that the Commissioner of Police in the state, Emenari Ifeanyi, has ordered a detailed investigation into the case.
He assured friends and family of the deceased of his commitment to unravel the truth and ensure that the rule of law prevails.