Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Oravbiere Osayomore Promise.
The Imo State Police Command has arrested three students of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), in connection with the alleged torture and murder of a 21-year-old undergraduate who died after being accused of stealing N13,500. The suspects — Chukwuemeka Benedict (21), Kelechi Gospel Ikenna (24), and Obioma Anastasia (21) — are all 500‑level students of the institution. The deceased, Chinedu Chibuzor Christogonus, was a 100‑level Cyber Security student and a member of the university’s Man O’ War paramilitary corps. According to preliminary police investigations, Christogonus was detained by fellow Man O’ War cadets over the alleged theft and subsequently subjected to hours of severe physical assault. He was later rushed to the Federal Medical Centre, Owerri, where medical personnel confirmed him dead.
The incident occurred on the night of Friday, May 29, 2026, with the student’s death confirmed early Saturday morning, May 30, 2026. The FUTO Association of Campus Journalists, in a statement obtained by TheCable, said that eyewitness accounts indicated the beating lasted between five and six hours, with Christogonus enduring repeated physical abuse at the hands of fellow corps members. “Multiple sources claim that Chinedu was subjected to hours of severe assault and punishment that reportedly lasted between five and six hours,” the union stated. The union added that allegations surrounding the dispute remained conflicting, with some sources claiming Christogonus was accused of stealing N13,500 belonging to the commander, while others maintained that the issue stemmed from an alleged debt of N13,000. Regardless of the differing accounts, witnesses alleged that the beating continued deep into the night, with some students pleading for his release, but their pleas were reportedly ignored.
Upon receiving the report, Commissioner of Police in Imo State, CP Audu Garba Bosso, immediately directed operatives to take swift action, leading to the immediate arrest of the three suspects. In a statement released by the command’s Public Relations Officer, Henry Okoye, the police confirmed that relevant evidence has been secured and that the remains of the deceased have been deposited at the Federal Medical Centre morgue for preservation and autopsy. “Initial findings indicate that the deceased was allegedly restrained and assaulted, resulting in critical injuries,” Okoye said. “Upon receiving the report, the Commissioner of Police, Imo State Command, CP Audu Garba Bosso, immediately directed operatives to take swift action, leading to the immediate arrest of the suspects. Relevant evidence has been secured, while the corpse has been deposited in the morgue for preservation and autopsy.”
To ensure a thorough and discreet investigation, CP Bosso has ordered the transfer of the case to the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Owerri, for comprehensive examination. He further directed that all persons connected to the incident be identified and investigated, with a view to ensuring that justice is served. “The Commissioner of Police assures the family of the deceased, the university community, and members of the public that the command is fully on top of the situation and remains committed to uncovering the circumstances surrounding the death. He emphasises that no individual, regardless of status, will be shielded from the law if found culpable,” the police statement read.
The death of Christogonus sparked violent protests across the FUTO campus on Saturday, May 30, 2026, with angry students taking to the streets to demand justice. Demonstrators reportedly demolished the Man O’ War base on campus, set fire to university buildings, and destroyed property belonging to the paramilitary organisation and university officials. Video footage circulating on social media showed students chanting for the dissolution of the Man O’ War unit. University authorities have since placed an indefinite ban on all Man O’ War activities on campus in a bid to calm escalating tensions. The Dean of Student Affairs, C.E. Orji, and the Students’ Union Government President, Christopher Bukas, made efforts to engage the protesters, but the students insisted that nothing short of the complete dissolution of the Man O’ War unit would satisfy their demand for justice.
The tragic incident has renewed intense debates regarding the operations of quasi‑security and volunteer paramilitary groups on Nigerian university campuses. Students have long complained that bodies like the Man O’ War, cadet units, and local campus vigilantes often operate outside the law, using torture, arbitrary detentions, and raw physical violence to enforce campus discipline. Educational advocate Alex Onyia, reacting to the incident, claimed he had previously warned the university about the brutal activities of the group and advised management to disband them and launch an investigation. “I warned the university about their brutal activities in the school and advised the management to disband them and launch an investigation,” Onyia said in a statement. “Man O’ War beat a student to death at FUTO yesterday. The university ignored the warnings. Now a young man is dead.”
The police have appealed to students and members of the public to remain calm and allow the investigation to run its course, reiterating the command’s commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring that all those responsible are brought to justice. As of the time of filing this report, the university management had not issued an official statement on the incident, though sources within the university’s senate indicated that an emergency meeting had been convened to address the crisis. The three arrested suspects remain in police custody, and the case has been transferred to the SCID for further investigation.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com
📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News
🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew
📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments