By our reporter| Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, on Sunday ordered an investigation into the murder a 100-level student of the Department of Microbiology, University of Benin (UNIBEN), Vera Uwaila Omozuwa.
The 22-year-old student was reported to have been raped inside The Redeem Church hall where she had gone to read at the Ikpoba Hill area of Benin City, the Edo State Capital.
The men were reported to have struck her in the head with a fire extinguisher after raping her and left her for dead. She was rushed to the University of Benin Teaching Hospital where she later died.
Governor Obaseki in a series of tweets vowed to ensure that the suspects are found and made to face the full wrath of the law.
He tweeted, “I have ordered the Nigeria Police Force (@PoliceNG) to thoroughly investigate the circumstances that led to the death of Miss Vera Uwaila Omozuwa, a 100-level student of the University of Benin (UNIBEN).
“The @PoliceNG has been mandated to identify, arrest and prosecute anyone found culpable in her death. The Violence Against Persons (VAP) Law is in effect in our state.
“Using this law, we would ensure to investigate what exactly transpired and deal decisively with the those found complicit in the dastardly act, whoever they might be. #JusticeForUwa,” Obaseki’s tweet read.
The news of Uwa’s death had earlier sparked outrage on social media with many demanding for justice using the hashtag #JusticeForUwa.
Uwavera had been studying in a “quiet” church near her home in Benin City when she was killed, her sister, Judith, told BBC Pidgin.
Judith Omozuwa said her sister had also been raped.
Her family said they received a call from a woman at the Redeemed Christian Church of God on Wednesday evening.
Uwavera was taken to hospital after a security guard found her, her skirt torn and her shirt covered in blood, Judith Omozuwa said.
The student, who had wanted to become a nurse, died in hospital on Saturday, three days after the attack.
A police spokesperson in Benin, however, told BBC Pidgin that they were treating the incident as a murder, not a rape, case.
The student died following a fight at the church, the spokesperson added, without giving more details.
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