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UNIBEN lecturer found dead

BENIN—THERE was pandemonium yesterday at the Government

Reservation Area, GRA, in Benin City, Edo State, when a senior lecturer in the Department of Petroleum Engineering, University of Benin, UNIBEN, Dr Balvant Rai, an Indian, was found dead few meters from his home.

The lifeless body was discovered in the early hours of yesterday, opposite the premises of the Edo State Ministry of Health.

Dr Rai, who Vanguard learnt had spent over 30 years in Nigeria, preferred trekking from Ugbowo to his GRA residence. Though it was yet to be ascertained what actually killed him, it was, however, believed that he probably died out of exhaustion after he trekked to his house under the down pour in Benin on Tuesday.

Some bruises were observed in his right elbow, which signified that he may have fallen hard on the rough surface of the tarred road. When Vanguard visited the scene at about 8:50am, policemen attached to the Aideyan Police Station and officials of UNIBEN came to take the corpse away in a 504 station wagon ambulance belonging to UNIBEN Health Services with registration number, FH 727 U50.

It was, however, observed that the back pocket of the late lecturer was turned out, which indicated that some hoodlums may have searched his pockets and taken away his cell phone.

The spokesman of the University, Osaze Osareren, who confirmed the incident, said the university authority had requested that an autopsy be carried out, just as he dismissed insinuations that the late lecturer might have been shot dead.

“There was no bullet wound, so that is ruled out. We will wait for the report of the autopsy before we can actually ascertain the cause of death,” he said.

An Indian lecturer was found dead in southern Nigeria's Benin City after he had gone for a trek, and is suspected to have died of exhaustion.

The body of Balvant Rai, who was in his 50s, was found yesterday morning lying face down near a golf club with minor bruises. His umbrella was found beside him. Police are conducting an autopsy to ascertain the cause of death of the lecturer at the Department of Petroleum Engineering at the high profile University of Benin."There was no bullet mark and no facts of strangulation yet but we are waiting for the result of the (autopsy) report," University spokesman Osaze Osarnren said. Rai had been residing in Nigeria for over 30 years.Local newspaper Vanguard reported that the back pocket of the lecturer was turned out, which indicated that some hoodlums may have searched his pockets and taken away his cell phone. Residents of the area said the Indian national hardly used a vehicle and preferred trekking. The Nigerian government started hiring a large number of Indian teachers and other experts in the 1970s. Towards the end of the 80s, many of them returned to India but some decided remain in the oil rich African country. At present, it is estimated that there are 17,000 Indian expatriates in the country, with some of them owning industries. Outside the federal government, Indian companies are the highest employers of labour.