Coffins deposited at Uniben former Bursar’s residence

THE simmering crisis over the vacant position of the Bursar of the University of Benin yesterday took a bizarre twist as two black coffins draped with red strip marks sandwiched by two earthen wares of sacrifice were deposited at the front gate of the official residence of the former Bursar of the University, Dr. May Ifeoma Nwoye .

According to Mrs. Nwoye, this incident is coming on the heels of a recent interview granted to media organizations by the former Bursar while responding to the deluge of allegations bothering on financial impropriety leveled against her by the Vice – Chancellor of the institution, Prof. Osayuki Oshiodin.

The former Bursar while speaking with journalists in Benin yesterday on the dumping of the mini coffins at her gate ,   said she was alerted by a neigbour at about 11 pm Thursday that some men who came in  two vehicles had deposited some luggage at her gate and had wanted to know if she was expecting same as  he, the neigbour suspected their movements to be very unusual.

According to her, “I then came out to see things for myself only to behold about three black mini- coffins at my front gate.”

Following due process and the normal procedures, I then called the University Chief Security Officer and he was blabbing some incoherent words which I could not understand and the telephone them went off. I called again and the telephone was dead”.

“I then called the Police and they came to see things for themselves and left. While still outside, a security patrol jeep came light grey in colour came and I was happy that at last there was security. But they told me that they were going to the borehole to fetch some water and when we turned to get into the house, the vehicle made a U-turn and in jiffy, the occupants alighted and took away the third mini-coffin and speed off and left two other coffins behind”.

“As I speak to you now neither the University Chief Security Officer nor any officer of the administration has come to see what happened”.

Mrs. Nwoye disclosed that since the issue of who becomes the next Bursar of the institution came up and had indicted her interest to be retained, she had been receiving anonymous telephones calls from different groups and persons threatening to deal with her if she does not forget her ambition to be re-appointed for a second term as the Bursar of the University,

Besides, she claimed that before the current incident, her security personnel have been withdrawn by the University authorities and appealed to the Commissioner of Police, Edo State to save and protect  her life