Dr Ifeanyi Emenari, the Benue State Police Commissioner, has ordered an investigation into the shooting of Emmanuella Ahenjir, a 200-level student of Federal University Wukari, by police personnel in Makurdi.
The incident occurred early Friday at the Wurukum area of Makurdi town when the vehicle she boarded was shot at by unidentified police personnel during a stop-and-search operation.
The issue has sparked outrage in the state, with many civil society organisations (CSOs) and groups threatening mass protest if justice is not served by next Tuesday.
The Benue State Police Command, in a statement issued over the weekend by its Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent CSP Catherine Anene, revealed that the Commissioner of Police had launched an investigation into the matter, promising to uncover the truth and ensure justice was served.
The statement partly reads, “On May 16, 2025, at about 4am, a radio message was received from a police team deployed at Duku Park, Wurukum, that the team flagged down a vehicle coming from the Benue Links area, but the driver turned back, drove through the opposite lane, shooting sporadically at them, but they responded with a shot, and the driver drove away.
“The police were on the trail of the vehicle until about 10am this morning when information was received that a lady named Emmanuella Ahenjir, a student of Federal University, Wukari, Taraba State, had died at the 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 mortuary for autopsy.
“One Apase Keghter, who was also an occupant of the vehicle, was seen at the hospital and invited for questioning.
“Mr Apase stated that they had gone for club activities and were on their way back when they drove on the opposite lane and passed the checkpoint without stopping but did not shoot.
“They were shot by the police, but they drove to the Welfare Quarters area with the victim. They stopped when they noticed a flat tyre and called a commercial vehicle that took them to the hospital. His belongings, the exhibit car and other occupants of the said vehicle are nowhere to be found at the moment.
“The Commissioner of Police, Dr Emenari Ifeanyi, has ordered a detailed investigation into the case.
“He assures friends and family of the deceased of his commitment to unravel the truth and ensure that the rule of law prevails.”
