Gunmen, believed to be cultists, have kidnapped five students of Rivers State University (RSU), Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, from their off-campus residence in Emuoha Local Government Area.
The abducted students were based at the Emuoha satellite campus, which has been the site of repeated attacks and harassment by hoodlums.
Prior to the incident, the students had protested to the school management, requesting relocation to the main campus in Port Harcourt for safety.
Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the abduction, describing the suspects as cultists.
She explained that the attackers opened fire multiple times before taking the students to an unknown location.
Tactical police units have been deployed to rescue the abducted students and apprehend the culprits. SP Iringe-Koko said:
“They were abducted by cultists. In the early hours of Tuesday, a group of five cultists stormed an isolated area of Rumuchi/Rumuohia, shot, and abducted five persons to an unknown destination. Efforts are ongoing for their safe rescue. The Commissioner of Police is on-site with tactical teams to ensure they regain their freedom.”
One of the students who managed to escape described a harrowing encounter with the gunmen. She said the attackers stormed the residence around 2 am, killing the security dog.
She called her father, who reached out to the Emuoha Police Division, but reported that no immediate response came.
The student recounted:
“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 focused on escaping. The attacker eventually returned to my compound, but someone from the bush pursued 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 still missing now.”
Authorities are continuing investigations, and efforts to locate the missing students remain ongoing.
