The Commissioner of Police in Benue State, Dr. Ifeanyi Emenari, has ordered a thorough investigation into the shooting of Emmanuella Ahenjir, a 200-level student of Business Management at the Federal University, Wukari.
The incident occurred on Friday morning in the Wurukum area of Makurdi, where the student was reportedly shot by yet-to-be-identified police personnel during a stop-and-search operation. Ahenjir was riding in a vehicle when it was fired upon, resulting in her injuries and prompting public outrage.
IREPORT247NEWS had reported the growing outrage in Benue State following the tragic death Emmanuella, who was allegedly shot and killed by officers attached to the Makurdi E Division of the Benue State Police Command on May 16, 2025.
Eyewitness accounts are still sketchy, but a prominent Benue-based social activist, Ukan Kurugh, took to Facebook to raise alarm over the killing. In his post, Kurugh claimed that a bullet fired by one of the police officers pierced through the vehicle Emmanuella was in, fatally striking her.
“Enough is Enough: End Police Brutality in Benue State Before We Rise To The Challenge. In the early hours of today, officers of the Nigeria Police Force Benue State Police Command, Makurdi E Division, tragically shot and killed an innocent young girl. The incident occurred at Wurukum Roundabout, where a bullet fired by the police pierced through the vehicle she was in,” Kurugh wrote.
The shooting has since sparked strong condemnation from civil society organizations (CSOs) and advocacy groups across the state, many of which have issued an ultimatum demanding justice. Several groups have threatened to stage mass protests by Tuesday if decisive action is not taken.
In response, the Benue State Police Command, through its Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent Catherine Anene, confirmed that the Commissioner has initiated an investigation to uncover the circumstances surrounding the incident.
According to the statement, the Police Commissioner has assured the public that the matter will be treated with the utmost seriousness and transparency, emphasizing that those found culpable will be held accountable.
“The Commissioner of Police, Dr. Ifeanyi Emenari, has ordered a full-scale investigation into the incident involving the shooting of Miss Emmanuella Ahenjir,” the statement read. “The Command is committed to unearthing the truth and ensuring that justice is served.”