At least five students of Rivers State University (RSU), Emohua Satellite Campus, have been abducted by unknown gunmen suspected to be members of a cult group
The victims were reportedly taken at gunpoint from their off-campus residence in Emuoha, Emohua Local Government Area, in the early hours of Tuesday.
The abductions come after students living off-campus protested last week over repeated attacks and harassment by cultists. They had called on RSU management to relocate them to the main campus in Port Harcourt for their safety.
However, during a pre-convocation briefing on Monday, Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi ruled out relocating students or closing the Emohua campus, saying security concerns were being addressed through engagement with community leaders, council authorities, and security agencies.
A student who narrowly escaped the attack recounted that the assailants invaded their residence around 2 a.m., shooting and killing the security dog before seizing 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 ran after me, and I had to sprint to the gate. About four of our students are now missing.”
The incident follows a reported robbery attack in Rumuji last week and occurred just hours after the Vice Chancellor’s assurances in Rumuchi/Rumuohia, also in Emohua LGA.
Rivers State Police Command spokesperson 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, fired sporadically, and abducted five persons to an unknown location,” she said.
She added that police have launched a manhunt for the abductors. “We have put measures in place for their safe rescue. The Commissioner of Police has deployed tactical teams to ensure the students regain their freedom,” she said.
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