Two suspects have been arrested in connection with recent attacks on students of Rivers State University (RSU), Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, even as gunmen suspected to be cultists abducted about five undergraduates from their off-campus residence in Emuoha Local Government Area in the early hours of Tuesday.
The latest abduction comes barely a week after students residing around RSU’s Emuoha satellite campus staged protests over repeated security breaches, calling for relocation to the university’s main campus in Port Harcourt.
Despite these concerns, the Vice Chancellor of RSU, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, had on Monday ruled out closing the satellite campus or relocating students, stating that the university was working with community leaders, local authorities, and security agencies to address safety challenges.
According to reports, armed men stormed an isolated student residence in the Rumuchi/Rumuohia area of Emuoha around 2:00 a.m. on Tuesday. The attackers reportedly fired gunshots, killed a security dog guarding the premises, and abducted five students to an unknown location.
Confirming the incident, the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, described the assailants as cultists who carried out the operation “in a commando-style.”
She stated that the Commissioner of Police has deployed tactical units and other security teams to the area to ensure the safe rescue of the abducted students and restore calm.
A female student who escaped the attack said she initially thought the gunshots were fireworks but fled upon realizing the danger. She recounted being chased by one of the gunmen as she ran for safety, adding that several students were taken during the incident.
Meanwhile, the Chairman of Emuoha Local Government Area, Dr. Chidi Lloyd, announced that two suspects linked to an earlier off-campus attack on RSU students had been arrested and are currently in custody.
He disclosed that the suspects would soon be charged to court and emphasized the government’s resolve to ensure security in the area. Dr. Lloyd also maintained that the Emuoha satellite campus would not be relocated, describing the attacks as attempts by criminals to scare students away from settling in the community.
University authorities have reiterated their commitment to improving student safety through continuous engagement with host communities and security agencies.
