A lecturer of the University of Benin, UNIBEN, has been killed after a commercial driver, allegedly trying to avoid police extortion, rammed into her. Another person was injured during the chase. According to reports, Dr. Stella Okotie, a lecturer at the UNIBEN faculty of Education, died on Tuesday, July 21, as a result of the accident that happened in Benin City at about 6:30pm along the ever-busy Benin-Lagos expressway, close to the UNIBEN main gate.
The commercial bus driver was running away from the police officers who had earlier flagged his vehicle down, demanding N100 bribe, eyewitnesses claim.
“The police officers were pursuing a commercial bus in quest for money leading to a physical struggle between one of the officers and driver of the vehicle,” an eyewitness told CAMPUS GIST. “While the police was struggling the steering wheel with the driver, the bus ram into Dr. Okotie who was standing on the walkway just by the side of her vehicle killing her on the spot.”
Following the incident, the police officers fled the scene leaving behind one of their colleague who was beaten by an angry mob. Consequently, residents and passersby barricaded the ever-busy New Lagos road right in front of the UNIBEN Ugbowo main gate, causing heavy traffic gridlock for hours. The UNIBEN medical students are embarking on a solidarity protest on Wednesday, July 22, over the killing of Dr. Stella Okotie, the mother of their former colleague. A statement issued by Comr. Goodluck Eghosa Osemwenkhae, Director of Information, Media and Publicity, on behalf of the union, said the protest would cover the police headquarters and the Edo state government house.
Follow us on Facebook – @Lailasnews; Twitter – @LailaIjeoma for updates