Gunmen suspected to be cultists have abducted about five students from Rivers State University (RSU), Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt.
The victims were taken from their off-campus residence in Emuoha Local Government Area. Prior to the attack, students had protested frequent assaults by hoodlums near the university’s satellite campus and urged management to relocate them to the main campus for safety.
Police spokesperson, Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the abduction and said the suspects opened fire before whisking the students away. She added that tactical police units had been deployed to rescue the victims and apprehend the culprits.
“They were abducted by cultists. In the early hours of Tuesday, a group of cultists numbering five stormed an isolated area of Rumuchi/Rumuohia, shot and abducted five persons to an unknown destination. Efforts are in place for their safe rescue,” Iringe-Koko said.
One student who escaped recounted the terrifying ordeal, explaining that the gunmen invaded their residence at about 2 a.m., killing the security dog. She immediately called her father, who reported the incident to the Emuoha police division, but no help arrived promptly.
“He was running after me and even shot at me. I couldn’t look back because I was focused on escaping. Another person came from the bush, chasing me, and I had to run faster,” she said.
She added that several other students, about four or so, remain missing following the attack