Edo State Government has set up a panel of inquiry to investigate the alleged killing of a 22-year-old student of the University of Benin, Ibrahim Momodu, by the police.
This came as the police in the state said the Laboratory Science undergraduate had a double-barrel gun when security operatives accosted him.
The state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Henry Idiagbon, confirmed the decision of Governor Adams Oshiohole to institute the judicial panel at a meeting with the deceased family members.
The deceased mother, Osas; a lawyer, Jefferson Uwoghiren; members of civil society groups and some students, attended the meeting in Government House, Benin.
The commissioner however could not confirm the members of the panel.
He said, “I cannot tell the composition now. The governor made the pronouncement at a meeting with the deceased family members. He condoled with them over the incident and assured them that the matter would be looked into.”
However, our correspondent gathered that the governor was said to be concluding plans to appoint a retired judge to head the judicial panel.
Meanwhile, the police said the student allegedly shot by the Divisional Police Officer of Ogida Police Station, Carol Afegbai, had a double-barrel gun among other dangerous weapons, when a police patrol team accosted him.
The command, in a statement by its Public Relations Officer, Moses Eguavoen, on Tuesday, said the shooting of the student took place as he made for his weapons to attack the police officers.
However, the deceased sister, Ebohon Egbe dismissed the police claim.
She claimed that the police killed and buried her brother without the knowledge of the family.
In a related development, students on Monday paralyzed business activities in Benin as they protested against the killing.
The students, who dressed in black, marched through major streets, calling for the arrest and prosecution of Afegbai over the incident.
