Ajuru Varsity Matriculates 2,000 …Flays False Alarm

More facts have emerged on the unfortunate incident that led to the death of a student of the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (IAUE), Rumuolumeni near Port Harcourt, in the early hours of Wednesday, as authorities of the institution have linked the cause of the incident to a false alarm.

The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Rosemund Green Osahogulu, who made this disclosure yesterday at the 2012 / 2013 matriculation ceremony of the institution, clarified that a yet to be identified person raised a false alarm of an appearance of a ghost, and collapsing building which resulted in stampede.

According to her, the student jumped from a two storey building in an attempt to escape but lost his life in the process.

Prof Osahagulu, who spoke after a minute silence was observed on behalf of the dead student, stated that the university community was still in fear because of the avoidable death, and warned that stiff punishment would be taken against any culprit as the institution would no longer tolerate such false alarm from students or staff.

The VC also warned the new intakes, particularly the ladies, that IAUE would deal decisively with any student involved in indecent dressing.

“Indecent, lewd and provocative scanty dressing outside the hostel rooms is disallowed and proven violation of this rule is punishable by exclusion of the offender from participation in the affected official activity such as lecture, laboratory work, games, sports etc,” she said.

According to the VC, willful damage to university’s property under uncontrolled anger, student rioting or group demonstration, cooking in the hostels, exam misconduct and membership of secret cults and of any other unregistered groups is disallowed, adding that violation is punishable by police detention and subsequent prosecution, rustication or expulsion.

The VC said the vision of IAUE was to be the ultimate global best among all institutions established for pre-service professional teacher education, and urged the new students to endeavour to ginger administrators and support service workers respectfully,  courteously and politely to rise up to global challenges.

“This role you can effectively play, mainly through strong commitment to learning through instruction, participation and research activity”, said the VC.

Prof Osahogulu said 2,000 new intakes of regular and sand witch students took part in the matriculation.

Meanwhile, the management of IAUE had reacted to widespread speculation and media reports about the incident that occurred in the early hours of Wednesday where a student died at the main campus.

A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of the institution, Ngozi Okiridu said no building has collapsed at the main campus in Rumuolumeni as alleged, explaining that rather some student preparing for their examinitation heard a false alarm about a ghost – appearing and the building shaking, hence, they decided to run for their dear lives.

Some jumped from the storey building while others were trampled upon, as a result of the commotion. In the end one Charles Ohamara, a 200 level student of French Department from Apani in Ikwerre Local Government Area of the state died instantly,” the statement said.

The statement said four other students were taken to the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital, two at the university’s hospital, adding that the 8th person had gone home after being attended to.

Chris Oluoh