By Wealth Oghenemaro
A High Court sitting in Jos, Plateau State, has sentenced a final-year student of Government Science Technical College, Bukuru, to death by hanging for the fatal stabbing of a teacher during a heated altercation over food.
The convict, Odey Emmanuel, was found guilty of culpable homicide punishable by death under Sections 188 and 189 of the Plateau State Penal Code Law (2017). The case, with charge number PLD/J178C/2021, was presided over by Hon. Justice S. J. Bakfur.
The court ruled that the prosecution, led by the Plateau State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Philemon Audu Daffi (represented by Chief State Counsels Nanfe Mbap and Solomon Gyang Deme), had successfully proven the case beyond reasonable doubt.
According to court proceedings, the incident occurred on July 30, 2022, within the school premises in Jos South Local Government Area. On that day, the late Mr. Job Dashe, a teacher at the college, was supervising students during breakfast and lunch alongside a colleague.
It was during lunch supervision around 2 p.m. that Dashe reportedly confronted Emmanuel for collecting food twice, a violation of school rules. What began as a disciplinary correction soon escalated into a tense exchange, during which Emmanuel reportedly became aggressive and issued threats.
Multiple eyewitnesses — including teachers, students, police investigators, and hospital personnel — told the court that the student made ominous remarks such as “I shall do it, nobody will stop me” and “I must hurt this teacher,” with some students even encouraging him.
The court heard that Emmanuel, in a fit of rage, drew a knife and stabbed Mr. Dashe in the chest, near the right-hand side. Teachers at the scene rushed the wounded teacher to Mercy Seat Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Following his arrest, Emmanuel was charged and arraigned. During trial, the prosecution presented compelling evidence — including medical reports and consistent eyewitness testimonies — that confirmed the deliberate and violent nature of the attack. The defense failed to counter the evidence or cast reasonable doubt on the charges.
In his judgment, Justice Bakfur condemned the attack as premeditated and calculated, stressing that violence in schools must not be tolerated. He described the act as a serious threat to educational institutions and societal peace.
Consequently, the court sentenced Emmanuel to death by hanging, in line with the provisions of the law.
