Former vice-presidential candidate Peter Obi on Tuesday mourned David Ntekim-Rex who was shot dead by robbers in Jibowu area of Lagos on January 15, Igbere TV reports.

According to a tale of the incident narrated on Twitter by Roy Mustang who identified himself as the deceased’s cousin, the 22-year-old was attacked around 8pm while returning home.

The incident has generated outrage from the populace, with many calling for improved security.

Mr Obi wrote on Twitter that Ntekim-Rex did not deserve to die in such manner.

“I am saddened by the killing of innocent and hard-working young Nigerian, David Ntekim Rex, in the hands of armed robbers due to worsening insecurity in our country,” he said.

“David, and indeed any other citizen, does not deserve this untimely death because the Compulsory Treatment and Care for Victims of Gunshot Act (2017), makes their treatment lawful.”

Ntekim-Rex was pronounced dead at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

Obi urged governments and institutions

“at all levels to urgently direct that gunshot patients be treated without police report in line with our laws. The hospitals can inform the police of such a patient while he or she is undergoing treatment.”

He added: “May the Almighty God grant David eternal rest and his family and friends the fortitude to bear this irreplaceable loss.”

In 2018, as a computer engineering student at the University of Lagos, Ntekim-Rex emerged second in the annual Master the Mainframe competition, organised by AngelHack a global hackathon company and the IBM Z Academic Initiative.