Education
Rivers Varsity Set To Tackle Cultism, Armed Robbery
Worried by the increasing wave of cultism and robbery attacks at the Rivers State University (RSU), the authorities of the institution say concerted efforts are being taken to tackle such occurrences within the university premises.
The Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Blessing Chimezie Didia made this assertion in an interview with The Tide in his office in Port Harcourt, last Thursday.
Didia disclosed that Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) and Metal Detectors have been acquired and would be installed across the campus adding that the school was collaborating with the police for 24 hours surveillance patrol in the campus.
He further disclosed that the management had ordered a permanent closure of Agip back gate as well as the closure of Azikiwe back gate by 8pm adding that the measures put in place would curtail the excesses of the various nefarious activities being perpetuated by the students on campus.
According to him, it was established that those who commit the crime hide under the shanties closed to the school campus adding that the school authorities have reported the matter to the police who according to him, have the constitutional responsibility to raid the criminal hide outs.
The vice chancellor also attributed the problem to the present corps of security guards working in the campus adding that most of them are aged and do not have the professional skills of the modern security techniques.
“We have an ageing sets of people employed as security men working in the university, not withstanding, we are collaborating with police to checkmate what is happening in the university campus”.
What is worrisome is, how did they get access to the hostel that was supposed to have been locked?
Also they attacked only the rooms occupied by the Man’ O War. The highest thing a thief can steal from students are phones and laptops because is what they need”, he stated.
The Vice Chancellor assured the students of the management commitment to end the robbery attacks and urged them to desist from acts that are inimical to their success and future.
The River State Commissioner for Education, Dr Peters Nwagor has called on media practitioners in Rivers State to deploy their various communication platforms toward promoting government programmes and policies aimed at achieving sustainable development in the education sector. Dr. Nwagor made the appeal when members of the Etche Ethnic Practicing Journalists (EEPJ) paid him a courtesy visit in Office in Port Harcourt. The Commissioner emphasized the strategic role of the media in shaping public perception, promoting government initiatives, and supporting policies capable of improving the quality of education and human capital development in the state. According to him, constructive media engagement remains essential in creating public awareness on educational reforms, students’ welfare, infrastructural improvements, and other interventions being implemented by the state government. Speaking on the recent appro
