Undergraduate arrested for killing Bayelsa varsity student

A 300-level Accounting student of the Niger Delta University, Amassoma, African Innocent, has been arrested for allegedly shooting to death a fellow student of the institution, James Okunmakpeye.

The Bayelsa Police Command confirmed the arrest of Innocent on Thursday, saying the suspect was already in custody.

The victim, a student of Marketing at the Faculty of Management Sciences of the NDU, was shot in the head at close range on Wednesday and died on the spot.

The deceased was said to be standing by the door of the lecture room in their faculty when the assailant attacked him.

The incident reportedly caused pandemonium as Okunmakpeye’s coursemates and the lecturer ran away in fear, while the victim’s lifeless body was left in a pool of his blood.

The Public Relations Officer, NDU, Mr Ingezi Idoni, had confirmed the incident and said the management was investigating it and had contacted relevant security agencies.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Bayelsa State Command, Asinim Butswat, said on Thursday that a suspect had been arrested in connection with Okunmakpeye’s death.

He said the command had mobilised operatives to beef up security in the school.

Butswat stated: “When our teams were alerted, we responded swiftly and one suspect, African Innocent, a 300-level Accounting undergraduate of the institution was arrested. He is now in custody.

“The victim, James Okunmakpeye, was shot in the head at close range and was rushed to hospital, where he was pronounced dead. We have beefed up security on the campus and we are going to arrest more suspects involved in the murder.”