Gunmen suspected to be cultists have abducted about five students of the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwu, Port Harcourt, at their residence in Emuoha Local Government Area of Rivers State.
The off-campus students were reportedly seized and taken away by their assailants.
Police Public Relations Officer, Superintendent of Police Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the abduction, stating that the attackers fired several shots before whisking the victims to an unknown location.
She added that tactical police teams had been deployed to rescue the students and apprehend the culprits.
A female student said she had called her father, who contacted the Emuoha Police Division, but complained that there was no response.
She also claimed the attackers fired at her as they emerged from the bush in pursuit.
Earlier, students of the Emuoha satellite campus had staged a protest over recurring attacks and harassment by hoodlums, calling on the university management to relocate them to the main campus in Port Harcourt.
However, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi said the university would not close the Emuoha campus or move the students despite the incidents.
In a separate development, the advanced team of the convoy of Abia State Governor, Dr. Alex Otti, was attacked yesterday by gunmen around Umuowa and Ihite junction, off Ngor Okpala junction, while heading to the Sam Mbakwe Airport in Imo State. No life was lost.
Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Ukoha Njoku Ukoha, confirmed the attack. He said: “In the early hours of December 2, an advance team of three members from the Office of the Governor of Abia State, Dr. Alex Chioma Otti, on duty to Sam Mbakwe Airport, Imo State, was attacked by unidentified gunmen.
“The incident occurred between Umuowa and Ihite junction, shortly before the Sam Mbakwe Airport Junction in Imo State.
“The public is hereby informed that the convoy of Governor Otti was not involved in this attack, and no lives were lost during the unfortunate incident.”
Also, the Delta State Police Command has announced the death of a suspected kidnapper after a gun battle in Obiaruku. The command also confirmed the arrest of several suspected armed robbers and cultists, alongside the recovery of arms and ammunition.
Police spokesperson, Superintendent of Police Bright Edafe, said operatives of the State Anti-Cult Unit (SACU), working with community volunteers, received intelligence that suspected kidnappers were mobilising inside the Obiaruku forest. He said the suspects opened fire as the operatives approached.
He explained that officers returned fire, killing one suspect while others escaped with injuries. “One AK-47 rifle with 42 rounds of live ammunition, nine mobile phones, and charms were recovered,” Edafe said.
He further disclosed that operatives of the CP-Special Assignment Team (CP-SAT), led by ASP Julius Robinson, recorded coordinated breakthroughs between November 28 and 29 during operations targeting criminal networks involved in theft, armed violence and cult activity across Ughelli, Oghara and Sapele.
He said operatives, acting on credible intelligence around Ekuigbo, intercepted Kelvin Oke, 42, and recovered a stolen tricycle. Subsequent operations led to the arrest of two additional suspects: Victor Oyaye, 26, identified as the gang leader, and Monday Emakpo, 31. A second stolen tricycle and a locally made shotgun loaded with six cartridges were recovered.
Building on the operations, CP-SAT expanded into the Oghara–Sapele axis. On November 29, operatives stormed the residence of Jeffery Saint, 28, of Ogharake, Oghara. “The suspect attempted to evade arrest but was swiftly restrained,” Edafe said. A search led to the recovery of a local Beretta pistol and 15 rounds of ammunition “ready for deployment.”
Edafe added that operatives of the Eagle Net Special Squad, under SP Danyaya Inusa, carried out a stop-and-search near the Northwest Filling Station at Mariam Babangida Junction on the Asaba–Benin Expressway, which turned into a chase.
He said: “The officers closed in quickly and apprehended the fleeing suspect, who was later identified as Ezekiel Edeya, 28, of Emevo in Isoko North Local Government Area. A search led to the recovery of a red bag he had attempted to discard. In it were a local pistol, three live cartridges, an iron plier, and one screwdriver.
“Suspects are in custody and investigation is ongoing.”
Delta State Commissioner of Police, CP Olufemi Abaniwonda, commended the operatives for their bravery and thanked stakeholders for supplying the information needed to combat crime.
