Obasempire reports that the Bayelsa State Police Command is probing the circumstances surrounding the death of Francis Palowei, a final-year Political Science student at Niger Delta University, Amassoma.
Initial reports suggest Palowei, from Obrigbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area, was fatally attacked by a group of youths demanding a N500 fee at Sand Dump, a popular hangout in Amassoma.
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The investigation revealed that due to its popularity among students for socializing, Sand Dump has become a favored relaxation spot.
However, some local youths have instituted a mandatory N150 fee for students frequenting the area.
Sources revealed that Palowei was said to have visited the Sand Dump, Monday evening, when the boys in charge of the levy demanded N500, instead of the normal N150 they were charging. An infuriated Palowei was said to have vehemently vowed not to pay the N500, which led to a shouting match.
The situation was said to have become tense when some students backed the deceased, while the levy collectors called for reinforcement, which included some suspected cultists.
Palowei was said to have been attacked by some of the suspected cultists and he was killed, while some of the other students sustained injuries.
Palowei’s death heightened tension in Amassoma and sparked a protest from NDU students as they demanded the arrest of the suspected killers.
Many of the community boys were also said to be preparing to resist any form of reprisal from the students.
The Commissioner of Police, Aloyenu Francis Idu, immediately deployed a contingent of policemen as reinforcements to ensure no breakdown of law and order.
The Public Relations Officer in the Niger Delta University, Mr Ndoni Igezi, who confirmed the incident, yesterday, described it as unfortunate, stating that police were already on top of the situation to curtail any escalation.
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He explained that though the owner of the sand dump, located at the end of the community, does not charge any fee from those who want to relax there, some youths in the community have an unwritten law of N150 levy to allow people to climb to the top to catch funs.
The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Musa Muhammed, who also confirmed the incident said the commissioner of police has already deployed additional security personnel to restore calm and orderliness in the area.
He said the police had begun investigations and launched a manhunt for the fleeing killers.
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