The management of the University of Port Harcourt, Rivers State, has demanded a probe into the death of one of its students, Godwin Akpakpan, a 300-level Computer Science undergraduate, who was allegedly killed by a stray bullet fired by a yet-to-be-identified military man.

PUNCH Metro recalls that the family of Akpan accused the police of a cover-up in the circumstances behind the death of the student outside the university campus.

The family had said in an interview with our correspondent that the Rivers State Police Command was deliberately shielding the alleged killers of the student by not disclosing their identity.

The deceased’s brother, Francis Akpakpan, had narrated that the deceased had come to watch a football match at his lounge on April 16 and later went home.

He narrated that afterwards, he was unable to reach his brother over the phone after repeated attempts.

He said that on April 17, someone who claimed to be a police officer picked up the call and informed him that his brother had been shot by a soldier.

Akpakpan continued that efforts to know the identity of the killer, as claimed to be a soldier, were unsuccessful as the police had continued to shield the suspect.

Reacting to the allegation by the family, the state Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, had told our correspondent in an interview on Sunday that the student was allegedly killed by a stray bullet fired by a military officer and not the police.

She narrated that some officers of the command had stopped a vehicle conveying the student and some passengers during a stop-and-search operation.

She noted that, upon searching the vehicle, the police team discovered a parcel of Indian hemp at the back of the vehicle, and efforts to identify the owner of the illicit substance proved abortive.

The PPRO continued that the police team decided to take the vehicle’s occupants to the station for further interrogation, but on their way to the station, they encountered a group of people engaged in an altercation with some military personnel.

Iringe-Koko noted that as the policemen were proceeding to the station, a bullet fired by one of the military personnel hit the vehicle and struck the student, who was rushed to the hospital but was confirmed dead.

She, however, did not disclose which of the military formations was involved in the incident, nor did she disclose the identity of the military men when asked by our correspondent.

Meanwhile, reacting to the incident in a statement by its Head of Information, Publications and Public Relations, Dr Sam Kpenu, UNIPORT expressed deep sorrow over the death of the student, stressing that the university was committed to uncovering the full circumstances surrounding the event.

Kpenu stated, “The university is actively engaging with relevant security authorities to fully understand the circumstances surrounding this tragic event.

“We expect that a thorough investigation will be conducted and that appropriate actions will be taken in line with justice and the rule of law.”

He urged the student community and staff members to remain calm and allow security agencies to conduct their investigations without interference.

“We extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and colleagues during this very difficult time. The management reaffirmed its commitment to the safety and well-being of all students and staff, promising to take necessary steps to ensure such incidents do not recur,” the statement read.


https://punchng.com/uniport-seeks-justice-for-student-killed-by-soldier/