…Students protest, police begin probe
Dennis Naku, Port Harcourt
Hoodlums suspected to be armed robbers, on Thursday morning, invaded a female hostel at the Rivers State University, Port Harcourt, carting away with mobile phones, cash and other valuables.
PUNCH gathered that hostels ‘D” and ‘C” near the school back gate where many of the female students are accommodated were raided at about 1:45am, and some of the students were reportedly sexually assaulted.
One of the students who spoke to our correspondent on the telephone said, “About four female students were injured. They (hoodlums) were armed with guns and machetes.
“They operated for about 45 minutes, collected phones, cash and other valuable items belonging to the girls (students).”
Following the incident, students staged a protest at about 8am over what they term poor security.
Management of the institution had immediately shut the two entrances of the school to prevent the riotous situation from escalating.
Efforts to reach the President of the Students’ Union Government, Anele Miracle, proved abortive as he did not answer several calls put across to his phone. However, on a second trial, a voice who answered said Mr. Anele was in a meeting with the Chief Security Officer of the school.
When contacted, spokesperson of the State Police Command, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, but said no student was raped.
She stated, “I am aware of the incident and investigation is ongoing. As we speak the Divisional Police Officer mobilized his team to the school and he met with the School Chief Security Officer and normalcy has been restored. ”
On the allegation of Rape, Iringe-Koko, a Superintendent of Police said, “It is not true. They only stole their phones.”
PUNCH