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Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, has condemned the killing of a student of the University of Benin and promised that those responsible would be brought to justice. The governor described the attack as “brazen and cold-blooded,” warning that Edo State would not become a safe haven for cultists and violent criminals. 
The slain student, identified as Alexander Omogiate, was reportedly shot dead on Sunday evening by masked gunmen near the university’s main gate at Ugbowo, Benin City. According to eyewitness accounts, the attackers intercepted a Mercedes-Benz GLK carrying three occupants and opened fire at close range before fleeing the scene. Two other occupants of the vehicle, as well as a female passerby, sustained injuries during the attack and were rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital for treatment. 
In a statement issued by the state government, Okpebholo said security agencies had already begun investigations and assured residents that the case would not be ignored. He highlighted ongoing anti-cultism operations by the state government, including coordinated actions involving the police, DSS, and the Nigerian Army aimed at dismantling criminal networks across Edo communities. 
The Edo State Police Command also confirmed that a full-scale investigation had commenced. Police spokesperson ASP Eno Ikoedem said the Commissioner of Police had directed operatives to track down the attackers and warned criminal groups operating around university campuses to desist from violence. Authorities further appealed to members of the public to provide credible information that could aid the investigation, assuring that all information would be treated confidentially. 
