Adibe Emenyonu
28 August 2008
Benin — The internal crisis rocking the academic community of the University of Benin (UNIBEN) over who succeeds the present vice-chancellor, took a tragic dimension on Monday, when unknown gunmen suspected to be hired assasins shot dead the Deputy Registrar of the University, Dr. John Ighodaro.
The 51 year-old registrar was the husband of one of the chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state and former leader of the state House of Assembly, Mrs Elizabeth Ighodaro.
One of the sons of the deceased, Mr Otoide Ighodaro, who spoke to newsmen said his father had left office at about 5.00pm Monday and was allegedly heading home when report said he was accosted by the unknown gunmen at one of the bad spots along the Benin Technical College road, Ugbowo.
It was also learnt that he was shot at close range on the forehead and he died immediately. He said the killers dumped him inside his Honda Jeep without taking anything from the vehicle.
According to him , " we waited in vain without seeing him from Monday till Tuesday, and we organized a search party and that was when we now got the information that his car was sighted at the premises of Okhoro police station. And that was where the police now told us that the body was found inside the car."
Weeping uncontrollably, wife of the deceased, Mrs Elizabeth, who went into coma when the sad news was broken to her, called on the Inspector General of Police and the Edo State Police Command to help look for the killers of her husband.
THISDAY gathered that the situation had heightened tension in the University as some of its senior staff were said to have temporarily left their quarters because of the fear of the unknown.
Edo State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Peter Ogboi, who confirmed the tragic incident to newsmen, said the command had commenced investigation into the killing.
"The only thing I want from the IG and the Edo state police commissioner is for them to help me get the killers of my husband. I want to see them and ask them the motive behind the killing. This is necessary because he was a peace -loving man who had nothing controversial with anybody. My husband had nothing like unhealthy deal with anybody and that is why I and members of his family want to know who killed him and why he was killed," she lamented.
Also reating, spokesman of the University, Mr. Eddy Akpomera , described the killing as unfortunate.
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