Tragedy in Makurdi: Young Student Emmanuella Ahenjir Reportedly Shot Dead by Police at Wurukum Roundabout — Benue Activist Demands Justice

 

A heartbreaking incident has rocked the city of Makurdi in Benue State, where a young woman identified as Ahenjir Emmanuella has allegedly been shot and killed by officers of the Benue State Police Command, specifically from the Makurdi E Division.

The tragic event is said to have occurred in the early hours of Friday, May 16, 2025, at the Wurukum Roundabout, one of the busiest and most well-known areas in the state capital.

According to reports gathered so far, Emmanuella was a student of the Federal University Wukari, a young woman with hopes and dreams, whose life was suddenly cut short under circumstances that are still unclear as of the time of this report.

The full details surrounding the events that led to her tragic death are still sketchy. However, what is currently known points to allegations of police misconduct, raising yet another alarm over the ongoing issue of police brutality in Nigeria—particularly in Benue State.

A well-known Benue-based activist, Ukan Kurugh, was among the first to break the news on social media. Taking to Facebook, he provided a chilling account of what reportedly happened and made an emotional call for justice and reform.

In his post, Ukan Kurugh wrote:

“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 k#lled an innocent young girl. The incident occurred at Wurukum Roundabout, where a bullet fired by the police pierced through the vehicle she was in,” he stated.

He went on to demand accountability and transparency, insisting that the officers allegedly responsible must face justice:

“We are not asking for much, only justice. The officers responsible must be identified and handed over to the state command for immediate and transparent investigation. Lives must not continue to be lost at the hands of those sworn to protect us. This must end now.”

Kurugh’s post has since sparked a wave of anger and mourning across social media, with many Nigerians calling for urgent investigation into the matter. The phrase “#JusticeForEmmanuella” has already begun to trend locally, as more people demand that the relevant authorities take swift and decisive action.

As of now, the Benue State Police Command has yet to release an official statement regarding the incident. The identity of the officers involved has not been disclosed, and the exact circumstances under which the shooting occurred remain unknown. It is not clear whether there was any confrontation, misunderstanding, or security operation that led to the firing of bullets.

For the friends, family, and schoolmates of Ahenjir Emmanuella, this is a devastating blow. A young life, filled with promise and potential, has been taken under violent and questionable conditions

.

This tragic event echoes the larger conversation around police reform in Nigeria, a conversation that gained massive momentum during the #EndSARS movement but which many feel has lost momentum in the months and years since.

The death of Emmanuella is a painful reminder that police brutality remains a deadly reality, and for many in Benue State and across the country, it raises an urgent question: How many more lives must be lost before real change happens?

As we continue to monitor this developing story, NaijaRush joins the call for truth, accountability, and justice. The life of Emmanuella Ahenjir must not be allowed to fade into silence without answers.

Stay with NaijaRush as we follow up on this heartbreaking situation and bring you the latest updates.