Police probe killing of Bayelsa varsity final year student over N500

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

The Bayelsa State Police Command has launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the killing of Francis Palowei, a final-year student of Political Science at the Niger Delta University, Amassoma.

Preliminary reports from the university town indicated that Palowei, from Obrigbene in Ekeremor Local Government Area of Bayelsa State, was killed by a group of boys who demanded the payment of N500 levy from him, at a popular relaxation spot, Sand Dump, located in Amassoma.

Investigations revealed that because of the ambience at the Sand Dump, it has become a relaxation spot for many students to unwind and socialise.

However, some boys in the area, seeing the high concentration of students that patronise the relaxation spot, introduced a payment of N150 levy for any student coming to the place.

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.

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.