Killing of Uniben student: Cult Renunciation Committee chair resigns, citing lack of support from VC
The Chairman of the Cult Renunciation, Reconciliation, Reformation, Rehabilitation and Interfaith Committee of the University of Benin, Venerable Egbenusi Osazee David, has resigned on the heels of the killing of a student in front of the institution’s gate on Sunday.
Egbenusi reportedly stepped down from his position after expressing frustration over what he described as inadequate support from the university management and the Vice-Chancellor in tackling cult-related issues within the institution.
According to information circulating online, the former committee chairman accused the university authorities of failing to provide the cooperation and institutional backing needed for the committee to carry out its anti-cultism mandate effectively.
He alleged that two hours before the killing of the student, he got a clip which he immediately forwarded to the VC for action.
The cleric said that after the shooting incident, he was sent a clip from the scene, which he immediately forwarded to the VC.
He lamented that he was shocked to receive a furious response from the VC, giving him a five-minute ultimatum to delete the clip.
Egbenusi said the VC reduced the ultimatum to three minutes and later two minutes, threatening to evict him from the chaplaincy and report him to his superiors.
He said he was left with no choice but to resign from his position as the chairman of the cultism renunciation committee.
He also vowed never to delete the video he received and forwarded to the VC.
No official statement has been issued on this development at the time of filing this report.
His resignation has triggered conversations about possible internal friction between the committee leadership and the office of the Vice-Chancellor, especially amid renewed concerns over insecurity and cult-related violence around the university community.
It would be recalled that a part-time UNIBEN student was shot dead outside the school’s main gate on Sunday.
The student’s car was allegedly blocked by another car, allowing gunmen to alight and rain bullets on the hapless students, who died instantly.
Unverified reports claimed that there were at least two other people in the car at the time.
A chat circulating online indicated that a friend of the deceased was seated in the passenger seat at the front, while another was seated at the back.
Both of them were said to have ducked when the shooting started, and the attackers were said to have concentrated on the driver’s side of the car, suggesting that the driver was their target.
One of the deceased’s friends sustained a gunshot wound on the shoulder and is currently receiving medical treatment..
As of the time of filing this report, the university management had yet to officially respond to the allegations surrounding Egbenusi’s resignation.
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