Five University Students kidnapped by suspected armed Men
Five University Students kidnapped by suspected armed Men
At least five students of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, were abducted on Tuesday by gunmen suspected to be cultists from their off-campus residence in Emuoha Local Government Area.
The incident comes just a week after students living near the university’s Emuoha satellite campus staged a protest over repeated attacks and harassment, urging the school management to relocate them to the main campus in Port Harcourt for safety.
Addressing the issue at a pre-convocation press briefing on Monday, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, stated that the university has no plans to shut down or relocate the Emuoha campus despite the criminal activities in the area.
Prof. Zeb-Obipi assured that measures are being taken to protect students and staff, including a town hall meeting involving the local council, traditional leaders, community stakeholders, and security agencies.
Confirming the abduction, Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the gunmen, armed with firearms, stormed the students’ residence, firing sporadically before taking them to an unknown location.
She added that tactical police units have been deployed to rescue the kidnapped students and apprehend the suspects.
“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,” she said.
