Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
A 23-year-old National Diploma Accounting student of the Auchi Polytechnic has been reportedly shot dead by gunmen in Auchi, Edo State.
The deceased, Emmanuel Aronokhale, who hailed from Okpella in Estako East Local Government Area of the state, was said to have been killed at about 8pm Tuesday night at his Auchi residence in Second Bawak, Sabo.
It was gathered that the deceased was relaxing in front of his hostel with fellow students when the gunmen attacked them, ordering everyone into their rooms and robbing them of their money and mobile phones.
Emmanuel was unlucky, as he was reportedly shot at close range and died on the spot.
Sources said the remains of the student have been deposited in a mortuary in Auchi.
In another incident, gunmen suspected to be cultists, on Wednesday, killed an unidentified barber in Idumwunowina area of Ovia North East Local Government Area, Edo State.
The deceased, it was learnt, recently got a loan to start up his saloon business.
He was said to have opened his shop at about 8am to begin the business of the day when he was attacked by three gunmen.
Soon after the attack, the gunmen, who came on a motorcycle, moved towards the Oluku end of the Ugbowo-Lagos road unhindered as they shot repeatedly into the air, forcing residents to flee.
Security operatives from the Ugbowo and Ekiadolor police divisions were said to have visited the scene of crime in a bid to track down the culprits.
The body of the victim has been deposited in an undisclosed mortuary in the area.
When contacted on phone, spokesman for the police in the state, DSP Chidi Nwabuzor, said he was yet to be briefed on the killings.