A final year Computer Science student at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu University (COOU) in Uli, Anambra State, Mohammed Umar, has been shot dead by gunmen, who allegedly mistook him for their target. FRANKLIN ONWUBIKO reports.
Who killed Mohammed Umar? This is the knot the Homicide Department of the Anambra State Police Command needs to untie.
The late Mohammed, a final year Computer Science student of the Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University (COOU), formerly known as Anambra State University, in Uli, was ambushed and shot at close range penultimate Saturday by yet-to-be identified gunmen on his way to his off-campus hostel around 2am. He was returning from the bonfire night organised by the Students’ Union Government (SUG).
CAMPUSLIFE gathered that the late Mohammed was a victim of mistaken identity. The union’s Director of Transport, it was gathered, was the assailants’ target.
Mohammed, who hailed from Kogi State, was shot in the chest and he died on the spot.
His death plunged the campus into mourning.
Olivia Ikejiuba, his classmate, who was with him moments before he was shot, described the incident as “plain murder”.
In a tribute to the deceased on her Facebook timeline, Olivia wrote: “It’s still a shock to me, Mohammed. We went to the SUG night together; we had fun. On our way back home, you were murdered. I don’t have much to say, but to say rest in peace dear friend. I can still remember all that you told me that evening.”
When CAMPUSLIFE visited the campus last week, there were insinuations of the real identity of the assailants. While some believed the victim could have been killed by suspected secret cult members, who attempted to disrupt the bonfire night organised by to mark Students’ Week; others said the killing might have been carried out by motor park touts.
It was gathered the union leaders, particularly the Director of Transport, had a bitter dispute with leaders of the road transport union in Uli Motor Park over the union’s introduction of tricycles (Keke) approved by the SUG leaders to convey students from off-campus to school.
After the bonfire night ended at midnight, it was gathered that the late Mohammed was in company of some friends when he was accosted by the assailants.
The Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Fidelis Okafor, described the incident as “a tragedy”. He told CAMPUSLIFE that investigations had begun into the killing, vowing that the perpetrators would be fished out and brought to book.
The VC said preliminary findings by the school revealed that the incident took place outside the university.
He said: “We gathered reliable information that the deceased was returning to his off-campus hostel after bonfire night with other students, about five of them. While they were on their way, they were accosted by two unidentified men. We learnt that one of them approached the late Mohammed and said in pidgin: ‘Shey you be SUG official, you think say you don get power’. Afterwards, he was shot and killed on the spot.
“We gathered that the SUG officials, who were returning from Adoration Ground that night, where they had gone for prayers, found the victim in a pool of blood. They immediately alerted the police plying the area and took the deceased to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. The body was conveyed in the police van back to the school.
“On inquiry, I was told and confirmed that the Director of Transport of the SUG might have been the actual target, because he had a misunderstanding and dispute with the local park managers known as agberos, who took great offence in the decision of the SUG to introduce Keke into the transport scheme within the area for students.
“The agberos had believed the scheme would affect their business. On interrogation, the students’ leaders told me that they always felt they were being trailed by unknown persons and believed that the Director of Transport could possibly be the target.
The Director of Transport is not a Muslim, but he is popularly called Suleiman. And he keeps bushy beard that makes him to look like the victim.
“We were told that the victim answered the assailants when they called him Suleiman. He was shot immediately. This pointed towards a mistaken identity, because the victim was said to be a quiet student.”
The VC denied reports making the rounds that the management suspended the SUG president for “contravening the school directive” which banned night activities on the campus. He, however, said the bonfire was held against the school’s directive.
Prof Okafor said: “The university has placed ban on night activities, including religious events. If any event must be held on the campus, the organisers must inform the management ahead so that we can arrange for security. The bonfire night is illegal and in defiance of the school rules.”
It was gathered that the SUG president sent a text to the VC about the cancellation of the bonfire night, but the union still organised the show. This, some students said, was the reason why some leaders of the union’s stayed away from the show.
The union Public Relations Officer, Godwin Onwuemezina, in a statement, said the SUG regretted the “ugly incident”, while condoling with the family of the victim.
The statement reads: “The late Mohammed was a final year student who had held leadership positions in his department. It is on record that he was COOU’s Best Basket Ball Player. He was a devoted Muslim and loved to participate in social activities. We regret his killing and we hope the perpetrators will be brought to justice.”
Some students, who spoke to our reporter, described the late Mohammed as “peace-loving and jovial”, adding that he actively participated in every extracurricular activity.
