Two students of the University of Benin, Edo State, named Samson Kennedy and Wilfred Emmanuel, have been arrested by the Edo State Police Command following the discovery of the lifeless body of their fellow student, Francis Aniude, in the Ekosodin River near the Ugbowo campus.
The Police Public Relations Officer, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, confirmed the arrest and stated that the suspects were cooperating with the ongoing investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death of the victim.
According to an anonymous student, it is believed that the suspects invited Aniude to swim in the river, where he tragically drowned on June 29.
The student further revealed that after Aniude drowned, Kennedy and Emmanuel hurriedly sought assistance from the Ekosodin community and vigilance members, but unfortunately, the deceased passed away before help could reach him.
The deceased’s body was subsequently recovered from the river on July 1 by local divers. The discovery of blood on Aniude’s lips and peeled skin around his neck raised suspicions among family members and relatives, who are now demanding an autopsy.
Nwabuzor disclosed that the Ugbowo Police Station received the report, and the Divisional Police Officer, along with a team of local divers, went to the scene of the incident and successfully retrieved the body. The case has now been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further examination.
Explaining the rationale behind the arrests, Nwabuzor emphasized the importance of understanding why the two students left their hostel to swim in the river and what exactly transpired there. The investigation aims to shed light on the events leading up to Aniude’s tragic demise.
