Gunmen suspected to be members of a cult group stormed an off-campus residence used by Rivers State University students in Emuoha Local Government Area on Tuesday, abducting about five undergraduates.
The attack occurred despite growing concerns from students who had recently held protests over repeated security breaches around the institution’s Emuoha satellite campus.
Students living around the satellite campus had, just last week, taken to the streets to decry the frequent assaults and intimidation they face. They appealed to the university leadership to relocate them to the main campus in Port Harcourt where they believe they would be safer.
But at a pre-convocation briefing on Monday, December 1, Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi insisted the university had no plans to shut the Emuoha campus or move students.
He maintained that criminal incidents in the area were isolated, and he assured the public that the school was implementing safety measures in partnership with community leaders, local authorities, and security agencies.
Although the latest robbery incident was said to have occurred in Rumuji, the Tuesday kidnapping took place shortly after the VC’s renewed assurances in Rumuchi/Rumuohia, also within Emuoha.
The state police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the abduction and identified the perpetrators as cultists. She explained that the armed group invaded the isolated area, fired multiple shots, and dragged the students away to an unknown location.
According to her, tactical teams have been deployed to track the suspects and secure the victims’ release.
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.”
A female student who escaped the scene recounted the terrifying ordeal. She said the attackers broke into their residence around 2 am, killing the security dog before proceeding. Initially mistaking the first gunshot for fireworks, she soon discovered the danger was real.
She fled under gunfire, narrowly escaping as one gunman pursued her before turning back when another assailant emerged from the bushes.
The female student said, “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 it for me. Some of our students, about four or so, are missing now.”
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