The Edo State Police Command has arrested two students of the University of Benin over the death of their friend, Francis Anuide, who drowned in Ekosodin River, Benin, where the trio had gone swimming.

The arrested students are Samson Kennedy, a 200-level biochemistry student, and Wilfred Emmanuel, a 500-level student of Optometry.

The deceased was said to have been invited by the two friends to swim in the river close to the Ugbowo campus of the University, where he allegedly drowned.

Confirming the arrest, the state police spokesman, SP Chidi Nwabuzor, said the duo were apprehended to assist the police in investigating the circumstances leading to the victim’s death.

Mr Nwabuzor explained that after the case was reported at the Ugbowo Police Station, Benin, the divisional police officer and his men led a team of local divers to the incident scene.

“Luckily, they were able to recover the body. The case has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department for further investigations.

“Two persons were arrested because they went together to swim in that river when the ugly incident occurred.

“Arresting them is very important so that we can know what made them leave their hostel and go to that river at that time and what happened right there in the river,” he said.

Sources told journalists that the two students were arrested due to the discovery of blood on the lips of the deceased and peeled skin around his neck region.

The sources said this raised suspicion amongst the victim’s family members and relatives, demanding an autopsy.

“After the deceased got drowned, the duo ran back to the Ekosodin community to seek help from the community and vigilante members, but the deceased died before help could come his way,” one of the sources said. 

(NAN)