How Five Rivers State University Students Were Abducted From Their  Hostel

By Akinwale Kasali

Gunmen suspected to be Cultists abducted no  five students of the Rivers State University, RSU, Emohua Satellite Campus in the early hours of Tuesday.

The victims were taken at gunpoint from their off-campus residence.

It was gathered that the students who live outside the campus had, last week, protested persistent attacks and harassment by cultists and appealed to the RSU management to relocate them to the main campus in Port Harcourt for safety.

However, at a pre-convocation briefing on Monday, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, ruled out closing the Emohua campus or relocating students, saying the University was addressing security concerns through engagements with community leaders, council authorities and security agencies.

A student who craved anonymity said the gunmen invaded their residence around 2.00am and shot dead the security dog before proceeding to seize the victims.

“He was running after me and even shot at me, I don’t know how many times. I couldn’t look back because I was focused on escaping.

“Someone from the bush then ran after me. I had to run faster to the gate. Some of our students, about four or so, are missing now,’’ the student said.

Spokesperson of the Rivers State police command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, who confirmed the abduction, described the perpetrators as cultists.

“They were abducted by cultists. In the early hours of Tuesday (yesterday), a group of cultists numbering five stormed an isolated area of Rumuchi/Rumuohia, shot sporadically and abducted five persons to an unknown destination,” she said.

While disclosing that the Police has launched a manhunt for the abductors, she said: “We have put efforts in place for their safe rescue. As I speak, the commissioner of police has gone there with tactical teams to ensure they regain their freedom.”