Five students of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, who were abducted from the institution’s Emuoha satellite campus on Tuesday, have been rescued.
The incident had triggered widespread panic on the campus and sparked a protest in which students demanded their relocation to the university’s main campus. Addressing the protesters, the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, announced a temporary shutdown of academic activities at the Emuoha campus and ordered all students living there to vacate the premises.
Confirming the rescue on Thursday, the spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said the five students were freed unhurt during an operation carried out at Rumuodogo 2 by police tactical units in collaboration with other security agencies.
In a statement, Iringe-Koko explained that the victims — Prince London, Azubuike Kelechukwu, Elizabeth Aniete, Onyebuchi Precious, and London Sampson — were abducted by suspected cultists from their off-campus residences. She added that the students have been taken to the hospital for medical checks, while efforts have been intensified to locate and apprehend the fleeing kidnappers.
The police commended the support received from the host community during the rescue operation and assured the public of continued action to curb criminal activities in the area.
