The Rivers State chapter of the National Youth Council of Nigeria has demanded an immediate and comprehensive security overhaul across all student-hosting communities following Tuesday’s abduction of five students of the Rivers State University at the institution’s Emuoha satellite campus.
The call came on the heels of rising tension within the university community after gunmen invaded an off-campus residence in the Rumuchi/Rumuohia area of Emuoha, shooting sporadically before whisking away the students.
The incident triggered a protest as distressed students marched to the Vice Chancellor’s office to express fears over what they described as worsening insecurity in the area.
Read Also: First Lady Urges Stronger Fight Against HIV
Chairman of the state NYCN, Nwisabari Bani, condemned the abduction in strong terms, insisting that no effort must be spared to ensure the students’ safe and unconditional release. He urged the university management and government authorities to take swift action to prevent a recurrence.
“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,” Bani said, stressing that the safety of young people must remain a top priority.
Bani further appealed to the university management to revisit concerns raised by students regarding relocation from the Emuoha campus to the main campus in Port Harcourt, noting that many no longer feel safe living or studying in the area.
The abduction prompted the Vice Chancellor, Prof Isaac Zeb-Obipi, to order the suspension of academic activities at the Emuoha campus and the evacuation of students until further notice. He assured the protesting students that the matter would be presented to Governor Siminalayi Fubara for intervention, adding that those behind the crime must be apprehended and prosecuted.
This is the second time students of the Emuoha campus are protesting over criminal attacks, heightening calls for improved security around the university’s satellite campuses established during the last administration.
