On Monday, some teenagers from the Amassoma community in Bayelsa State’s Southern Ijaw Local Government Area reportedly killed a final year student of the Niger Delta University student, Francis Palowei, over N150 at a sand dump, a famous relaxation spot in the area.
According to a community resident who spoke on the condition of anonymity, the sand dump is a popular spot for students to relax, socialise, and climb its height for fun.
He stated that other youths in the region, observing the concentration of students at the sand dump, began to tax any students who came to the spot to relax, especially those who wanted to climb to the top of the sand dump.
He stated that on Monday evening, the murdered final-year student arrived at the location with some of his friends and was on his way to the top of the dump when some youths demanded N500 instead of the statutory N150, causing an argument before the community youths went and called other youths, including a notorious cultist, resulting in the student’s death.
He described Late Francis Palowei, a native of Obrigbene town in Bayelsa State’s Ekeremor Local Government Area, as a brilliant young man with a bright future, whose needless murder has left his family, friends, and the entire University community in sadness.
It was also revealed that the deceased’s father is a high-ranking police officer.
Mr Ndoni Igezi, the Public Relations Officer of Niger Delta University, confirmed the incident on Wednesday and described it as unfortunate, adding that police are already on top of the situation to prevent further escalation.
He stated that the sand dump is placed at the end of the community; nevertheless, while the dump’s owner does not charge any fees, some youths in the community collect N150 to allow others to climb to the top for fun.
A police spokesman in Bayelsa State, ASP Musa Muhammed, confirmed the event in Yenagoa and stated that the Commissioner of Police has already sent additional security personnel to the area to restore calm and order.
He also added that police were conducting manhunts to apprehend the suspected killers.