In a shocking incident that unfolded yesterday, suspected armed robbers launched a brazen attack on hostels within the premises of Rivers State University located in Port Harcourt. The criminals targeted the Female Hostel D during the late hours of Wednesday night, leaving a trail of disarray and fear in their wake.
Armed with both guns and machetes, the assailants managed to infiltrate the university’s premises undetected, indicating a disturbing lapse in security measures. The invaders, said to have arrived from outside the campus, took advantage of the darkness and the lack of vigilant security presence to carry out their nefarious activities without hindrance.
Reports suggest that the situation escalated even further as the robbers went beyond theft to commit acts of sexual assault against two female students. Outraged by the incident, female students of the university staged protests within the campus premises, denouncing the recurring criminal assaults on their living quarters.
Several students expressed their frustration and disappointment with the university administration’s response to the security challenges. They claimed that the repeated attacks were met with insufficient measures to ensure their safety. Voices from within the student body criticized the school authorities for failing to proactively address the prevailing insecurity.
One student, recounting the horrifying ordeal, stated: “The perpetrators entered the hostel discreetly through a vulnerable access point. They subjected some of us to sexual assault and made away with numerous phones and laptops. Despite our distress, the school’s security personnel advised us to ‘wait.’ What are we waiting for? If we were their own daughters, would they tolerate such negligence?”
Another student weighed in on the situation, asserting that the robbers’ successful entry from outside implied potential complicity from within the university’s security personnel. She alleged: “It’s implausible that these criminals managed to breach the university’s security on their own. To enter the campus late at night, you’re usually required to bribe the security with N1000. They take the money and grant you access. If these criminals broke in, it points to possible internal involvement. Gunshots were fired; it’s inconceivable that the security staff didn’t hear anything. Furthermore, the Mile 3 police station is nearby, yet they remained inactive.”
Attempting to address the escalating tension, the Chief Security Officer of the university, Chukuwma Ebere, and a contingent of police personnel engaged with the agitated students. The students’ grievances were acknowledged, and they were assured that the concerns would be attended to promptly.
Providing official confirmation of the incident, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer, Grace Iringe-Koko, conveyed that calm had been restored within the institution’s premises. She stated: “Following the report of an armed robbery attack at the Rivers State University female hostel, the Commissioner of Police instructed relevant units to secure the campus. Normalcy has now been reestablished.”
As the Rivers State Commissioner of Police, CP Nwonyi Polycarp Emeka, called for heightened vigilance, he urged students, parents, and the university administration to utilize the Police Control Room numbers to report any suspicious activities. The incident has cast a spotlight on the pressing need for enhanced security measures to safeguard the students and restore their sense of security on campus.
