By Peter Onyekachukwu 
By Peter Onyekachukwu
Tension has engulfed Rivers State University (RSU), Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, following the abduction of five students by suspected cultists from their off-campus residence in Emuoha Local Government Area on Tuesday.
The incident comes just a week after students at the Emuoha satellite campus protested against frequent attacks and harassment, calling on the university to relocate them to the main campus for safety reasons.
Vice Chancellor Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi had earlier assured students at a pre-convocation press briefing that the Emuoha campus would remain open. He said the university would work with community leaders and security agencies to safeguard students and staff.
The latest abduction occurred in Rumuchi/Rumuohia, shortly after the Vice Chancellor’s assurances. One student, who narrowly escaped, recounted the terrifying ordeal to newsmen.
According to her, the gunmen struck around 2 a.m., shooting and killing the security dog on duty before storming the residence. “At first, I thought the gunshot was fireworks, but I quickly realized it was real,” she said.
She revealed that the assailants fired at her as she tried to flee. “I don’t know how many times they shot at me. I couldn’t even look back; I was just running for my life,” she added. She said that about four other students remain missing.
The student described a harrowing chase, noting that while one attacker eventually stopped, another emerged from the bush and continued pursuing her until she reached safety at a neighbor’s gate.
Rivers State Police spokesperson SP Grace Iringe-Koko confirmed the attack and said the Commissioner of Police had visited the scene, deploying tactical teams to ensure the students’ safe recovery.
“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 location,” she said.
SP Iringe-Koko added that police efforts are ongoing to recover the students and apprehend the suspects. “Tactical personnel have been deployed to ensure the students regain their freedom,” she said.
The incident highlights persistent security challenges for students living off-campus and raises urgent calls for improved protection measures in the area.