Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University, Prof Nlerum Okogbule, has stated that after series of investigations and questioning with affected female students of the university over the hoodlums’ invasion into hostels of the university, it was discovered that none was raped.
“As a result of that incident people are talking about rape and saying all sort of things, but let me state it categorically clear that after all our investigations so far, and from the testimony of the students, no student of this university was raped and I will still repeat to say that no student of this University was raped.”
Okogbule made this disclosure, last Friday during a press briefing with newsmen at the University in Port Harcourt.
The Vice Chancellor added that the only concrete evidence that was given to the school management team was that their personal belongings such as phones and about three laptops stolen from these affected students.
“We have conducted investigations and asked questions, but the truth of the matter is that the hoodlums stole the phones of 20 students and the laptops of about two or three students, apart from this as management, in order to actually look into the matter fully and ascertain the root cause of what happened, either caused by breach of security, we have decided to constitute a nine-man committee to investigate what really happened yesterday.
“You will recall that as a university we took active steps to demolish illegal structures on the campus, particularly the security village, which was the den of cultists and other criminal- minded individuals we did that to bring sanity to the university environment.
“You will also agree with us that since we assumed office over three years ago, there has been relative peace in this university campus. To the glory of God, all the university visitors that come here have always commended us on the serenity, cleanliness of the environment and all round safety that we have guaranteed and maintained for our students and their safety on campus,” the VC added.
He explained that it has been three years since they came into office and nothing of such has ever happened in the institution, rather their hard work, commitment and resilience have transformed the university into enviable heights and made it the choice of all seeking for admissions into universities.
“In all we do, especially when it has to do with female students of the University, we make sure that we provide all that is needed, so we saw the need to bring this to members of the public through you gentlemen of the press because you have the power and might to change the negative narratives already said about the university using your various media platforms such as radio, television, newspapers, bloggers, among others.”
The Vice Chancellor called on the public to disregard viral videos, misconceptions, misinterpretations and over exaggerations making the waves that female students of the university were raped, adding that these were the handiwork of mischief makers, rumour mongers and enemies of the university to bring down long years efforts made to project the university in it’s current limelight and enviable heights.
“There are a lot of misconceptions, misinterpretations, and over exaggerations that have followed this unfortunate incident that occurred at the university last Thursday, August 24, 2023.
The management team of the university as a matter of urgency saw the importance to organise a press briefing to correct all these misconceptions, misinterpretations and over exaggerations so that the public get a clearer and proper picture of what actually happened at the University.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana