Gunmen suspected to be members of a cult group have abducted at least five students of the Rivers State University (RSU), Emohua Satellite Campus.
Students who live off campus reportedly staged a protest last week in response to cultists’ ongoing harassment and attacks. For their protection, they had pleaded with the RSU administration to move them to the main campus in Port Harcourt.
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 issues through discussions with community leaders, council officials, and security agencies.
A student who narrowly escaped the kidnap narrated that the attackers invaded their residence around 2am 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,” she said. “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 recent incident followed last week’s alleged robbery attack in Rumuji and occurred barely hours after the Vice Chancellor’s assurances in Rumuchi/Rumuohia, also in Emohua LGA.
The spokesperson for the Rivers State Police Command, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the abduction, describing the perpetrators as cultists.
“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 sporadically and abducted five persons to an unknown destination,” she said.
She also stated that the police had launched a manhunt for the abductors, “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.”
