Rivers varsity suspends lectures, evacuates students after abduction

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The Vice Chancellor of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi, has ordered the immediate suspension of lectures at the institution’s satellite campus in Emuoha Local Government Area, following Tuesday’s abduction of five students from their residence.

The VC also directed the immediate evacuation of students from the Emuoha campus until further notice.

Gunmen had invaded an off-campus residence in Rumuchi/Rumuohia, Emuoha, shooting sporadically before abducting five students.

The incident triggered a protest by some students, who marched to the VC’s office to express their displeasure and the distress suffered by their colleagues.

Addressing the protesters, Prof Zeb-Obipi expressed anger over the incident and said the matter would be presented to Governor Siminalayi Fubara, who is the visitor to the university, for guidance and appropriate action.

He stated that offenders must face consequences, noting that when punishment was not applied, criminals became emboldened.

Prof Zeb-Obipi insisted that those behind the abduction must be found and prosecuted.

“Students who are there (Emuoha campus today), if they can pull out, let them pull out because there will be no lecture.

“We are going to engage the governor because it is the government that set up the campus, to ensure that he listens to the cries of our students.

“Right now, we are going to concentrate efforts on ensuring that we get our students safely back. Those who engage in this evil must be caught. We will pursue them, chase them till we get them.”

Meanwhile, the National Youth Council of Nigeria, Rivers State chapter, has called for the immediate and unconditional release of the abducted students.

The state NYSCN Chairman, Nwisabari Bani, condemned the abduction and urged the university to consider the students’ plea to be relocated from the Emuoha campus to the main campus in Port Harcourt.

Bani also called for strengthened security in communities where students reside.

He said, “We call on the Rivers State Government, security agencies, traditional institutions and community stakeholders to implement immediate and coordinated security reinforcement in all student-hosting communities.

“We also urge the management of Rivers State University to revisit and review the security arrangement, including concerns raised about the students’ relocation from the Emuoha satellite campus.

“The safety of our young people, our future scientists, engineers, leaders and entrepreneurs must not be compromised.”

This is the second time students of the Emuoha campus of Rivers State University would be protesting over criminal attacks and harassment in the area.

The university currently operates four satellite campuses, Emuoha, Etche, Ahoada and Sakpenwa, approved during the immediate past administration of Nyesom Wike.

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