Tension as Youths Stab Final Year N’Delta Varsity Student to Death over N150

Olusegun Samuel in Yenagoa

There is palpable tension and outrage in the university host community of Amassoma, Southern Ijaw Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, as youths in the community allegedly stabbed to death a final year student of the Niger Delta University (NDU) over N150 last Monday.

Community sources said the victim, Francis Palowei, was at the Sand Dump, a popular spot among the students for relaxation and socialising, when some youths of the area, stormed the place to demand N150 from the deceased, and when he failed to give them, they attacked and stabbed him to death.

Palowei, who hailed from Obrigbene community in Ekeremor LGA of Bayelsa State, was expected to graduate on July 24, 2024, when the university will hold its next convocation.

It was gathered that some of the angry students and men of the Nigerian Police Force have gone into the community and started searching for the perpetrators.

According to one source, students of the institution have also joined in the search for the perpetrators while the shock of the incident has made some students to shun classes, but a greater majority are attending classes.

Public Relations Officer of Niger Delta University, Indoni Engezi, who confirmed the incident, told THISDAY that the incident did not affect academic activities as “the university is a different community.”

Engezi said the issue affected the host community, Amassoma, and that the police were already on top of the situation.

According to him, the owner of the sand dump does not charge any fees for using the premises, but some youths usually charged N150 from anyone who wants to use the premises.

The state Police Public Relations Officer, Musa Mohammed, said the state Commissioner of Police, Francis Idu, has deployed additional police manpower to the community to maintain peace.

Mohammed also said the police have launched a manhunt for the killers.