An operative of the Edo State Police Command on Thursday opened fire on armless and peaceful protesting Niger Delta students at the headquarters of Nigeria Petroleum Development company, NPDC, in Benin the state capital.
A 300-level female student of the Department of Mass Communication in the University of Benin, who was among the protesters was shot in the process.
The action by the police officer caused the students to scamper for safety, while the victim was shot in the leg.
Daily Report Nigeria gathered that the students resorted to a protest action for being shortchanged by the NPDC.
One of the students who spoke with our correspondent under anonymity, narrated that the students were called up for a training by the company, stressing that the company failed to disburse benefits accrued to participants upon the end of the exercise.
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He said;
“We were called up for a training by the NPDC. First, a two weeks long training was reduced to just a week.
“Part of the requirements in the training proposal was the mobilization of is students to and fro their location, but we could see fowl play from the actions of the officials.
“At the start of the training, we were giving laptop bags without the laptops inside, which appeared to be a deliberate act by the officials because some of the bags had adapters in them.
“We protested peacefully at the NPDC gate against their actions on Wednesday and were asked to come for a dialogue on Thursday by the Managing Director.
“Upon our arrival on Thursday morning for the meeting with the MD, a police officer arrived the scene and opened fire on us against the command of the DPO, who warned him not to shoot.
The act by the police officer has since been greeted by wide outrage and condemnation, with many describing it as unprofessional.
The NPDC management as well as the Edo Police Command were yet to comment on the incident as of press time.
The injured female UNIBEN student has since been admitted at the Air Force Hospital in Benin for medical attention.
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