The attack comes barely days after students living around the RSU Emuoha satellite campus staged protests over recurring robberies, harassment, and cult attacks in the area. Many had pleaded with the school authorities to relocate them back to the Port Harcourt main campus for safety.
But on Monday—just 24 hours before the abduction—RSU Vice Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, insisted the school would not shut down the Emuoha campus or relocate students, saying the university was already engaging local chiefs, stakeholders, and security agencies to improve safety.
Hours later, the gunmen struck.
According to the Rivers State Police Command, a group of armed cultists invaded Rumuchi/Rumuohia around 2 a.m., shooting sporadically before forcefully taking the students away. Police spokesperson, SP Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the incident, saying tactical teams have been deployed to track the kidnappers and rescue the victims.
“They were abducted by cultists. A group of five cultists stormed an isolated area around Rumuchi/Rumuohia, shot, and abducted five students to an unknown destination. The Commissioner of Police is already on ground with tactical units to ensure their safe rescue,” she said.
A female student who narrowly escaped the attack narrated her terrifying experience, recalling how the gunmen first shot and killed the compound’s security dog before breaking into the residence.
At first, she thought the gunshot was fireworks—until the reality hit. As she attempted to flee, the attackers fired at her repeatedly.
“He was running after me and even shot at me. I don’t know how many times. I just kept running. I didn’t even look back,” she recounted, saying the gunman suddenly paused, only for another to emerge from the bush and chase her.
She managed to reach a nearby compound and escape, but said several of her colleagues—about four or five—were taken.
The incident has intensified calls for urgent security intervention in the Emuoha axis, where students say they have endured years of unchecked criminal activity. As police operations continue, parents, students, and community leaders anxiously await updates on the rescue efforts.