"They Fired At Our Officers First" Young Woman Fatally Shot in Makurdi; Benue Police Begin Full-Scale Investigation

 

A tragic incident in Makurdi, the Benue State capital, has prompted a serious police investigation following the death of a young woman, Emmanuella Ahenjir, who was shot and later succumbed to her injuries at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital. The deceased was a student of the Federal University, Wukari, in Taraba State.

According to a press release by the Police Public Relations Officer, CSP Anene Sewuese Catherine, the fatal incident occurred in the early hours of Friday, May 16, 2025. The situation unfolded around 4:00 a.m. when a patrol team stationed at Duku Park, Wurukum, radioed in a report of a suspicious encounter involving a vehicle that refused to comply with a police stop.

Reports indicate that the said vehicle was flagged down by officers, but instead of halting, the driver allegedly made a sudden U-turn, veering onto the wrong side of the road and fleeing the scene. The police stated that the vehicle's occupants began firing sporadically as they attempted to escape. Responding to the perceived threat, officers fired a shot in return. Despite this, the vehicle managed to speed away into the darkness.

The pursuit continued throughout the early hours, but it wasn't until about 10:00 a.m. that the police received troubling information from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital. A young woman had been brought in with a gunshot wound and was pronounced dead shortly after arrival. That woman was later identified as Emmanuella Ahenjir.

Detectives dispatched to the hospital gathered initial intelligence and confirmed the identity of the deceased. Her body was subsequently deposited in the morgue for an autopsy to determine the exact cause of death.

One individual, Apase Keghter, who was reportedly in the same vehicle as Emmanuella during the incident, was found at the hospital and taken in for questioning. During his statement, Mr. Keghter revealed that the group had spent the night at Newcastle Event Centre, a popular nightlife spot in Makurdi. On their return journey, he admitted that the vehicle drove against traffic and bypassed the checkpoint without stopping. However, he firmly denied the group had fired any shots at the officers.

Mr. Keghter further claimed that police fired at them, and despite the chaos, they managed to drive to the Welfare Quarters area. It was there they discovered one of their tyres had been damaged—presumably by a bullet—forcing them to halt. He said they then arranged for a commercial vehicle to take the injured Emmanuella to the hospital, where she later died.

Authorities are currently searching for the vehicle involved, which has not yet been recovered. The belongings of Mr. Keghter and the other occupants are also unaccounted for, raising more questions about what truly transpired in the early hours of that morning.

Commissioner of Police, CP Emenari Ifeanyi, has ordered an exhaustive investigation into the incident. He has pledged transparency and assured the family and friends of the late Emmanuella that the case will be handled with the utmost diligence. His statement reaffirmed the command’s commitment to uncovering the full truth and ensuring that justice is served, regardless of where the evidence may lead.

The untimely death of Emmanuella Ahenjir has left the local community in shock, with many calling for accountability and clarity over how a night of celebration turned into a fatal encounter. As investigations continue, both the police and the public await answers to the troubling questions surrounding the incident.