Students of Rivers State University (RSU) at the Emohua campus on Wednesday staged a protest over what they described as continuous armed robbery attacks on student lodges and an attempted rape of female students.
The protest comes just days after the university authorities announced the relocation of students from its satellite campuses in Ahoada, Emohua and Etche to the main campus in Port Harcourt.
The protesting students gathered at the school gate in the early hours of Wednesday before marching to the residence of the Paramount Ruler of Emohua Kingdom, Ohna Sergeant Awuse, to lay their complaints.
The students said the latest attack occurred around 3 a.m. on Wednesday. According to them, masked robbers invaded a lodge housing three female students. A male neighbour who attempted to intervene was reportedly stabbed multiple times by the attackers.
One of the female students who experienced the attack recounted her ordeal, saying the intruders broke into their room and threatened them. The injured male student, who was stabbed while trying to rescue the girls, also spoke to our correspondent from his hospital bed.
Two other protesters said they no longer feel safe in the Emohua campus and want the university to immediately transfer them back to the main campus.
When contacted, the RSU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, said he was in communication with the protesting students.
Last Friday, the university announced the temporary relocation of students from its three satellite campuses at Ahoada, Emohua and Etche to the main campus in Port Harcourt.
In a memo signed by the Registrar, Mrs. I.B.S. Harry, students in the Faculties of Agriculture, Social Sciences and Humanities were directed to move immediately.
According to the memo, the relocation was to allow the university authorities carry out infrastructural improvements on the satellite campuses. However, sources within the university disclosed that the decision was also prompted by numerous appeals from parents, students and staff over rising security concerns, inadequate accommodation, and the high cost of commuting to the campuses.
The satellite campuses were created three years ago under the administration of former Governor Nyesom Wike, following the expansion of RSU from a technology-focused institution to a full-fledged conventional university. New faculties were introduced and admissions commenced accordingly.
However, years after their establishment, many key facilities on the satellite campuses remain incomplete. The lack of residential accommodation for staff and hostels for students has further heightened security fears due to the isolated nature of the campuses, in addition to increasing the financial burden on students who travel long distances for lectures.
With no clear provision for completing the main buildings at the satellite campuses in the state budget, the university opted for what it described as a “difficult but necessary” decision to consolidate academic activities at the main campus for effective management and monitoring.
