From Victor Edozie, in Port Harcourt
Gunmen believed to be cultists have abducted about five students of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt at their off-campus residence in Emuoha local government area of the state on Tuesday.
Recall that students that reside outside the institution’s Emuoha satellite campus had last week protested the incessant attacks and harassment they face and called on the school management to relocate them to the main campus in Port Harcourt.
However, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi at a pre-convocation press briefing on Monday said the university would neither close down the Emuoha campus nor relocate the students because of pockets of criminal incidents there.
He said appropriate measures are being taken including a town hall meeting with the council authority and chiefs, other community stakeholders and security agencies to ensure the safety of its students and staff residing in the area.
While the last robbery incident allegedly took place in Rumuji, Tuesday’s abduction of five undergraduates came on the heels of the VC’s assurances in Rumuchi/Rumuohia also in Emuoha LGA.
Spokesperson of the state Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the kidnap of the students to our correspondent, saying the assailants are cultists.
Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police said the gun-wielding miscreants struck, shooting sporadically before whisking the students to an unknown destination, adding quickly that tactical police personnel have been deployed to ensure the students are rescued and suspects apprehended.
She stated, “They were abducted by cultists. In the early hours of Tuesday a group of cultists numbering five stormed an isolated area of Rumuchi/Rumuohia, shot and abducted five persons to an unknown destination.
“We (police) 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.”
Earlier,
A student who managed to escape while narrating the attack to newsmen said the students went missing after the gunmen stormed their residence in the wee hours (about 2am), saying the armed assailants shot and killed the security dog in the compound to enable them operate freely.
The distraught girl narrated that when she first heard the gunshot, she thought it was fireworks but quickly realized it was real during which she immediately called her father who contacted the Emuoha Police Division but there was no response.
She revealed that the attackers fired at her as she tried to escape from the scene, adding that all of a sudden, the miscreant stopped and another assailant came from the bush and chased after.
According to her, “He was running after me and even shot at me. I don’t know how many times. I couldn’t even look back because I was more focused on escaping.
“So the person just stopped and went back to my compound. Then someone from the bush came out and ran after me. I had to run faster to the gate of the person who was supposed to open for me. Some of our students, about four or so, are missing now.”
