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RSU Students Protest Robbery Attacks …As Gunmen Shot Two
Academic and other social activities at the Rivers State University (RSU) were halted for over five hours, yesterday, following a protest by the students of the institution over an alleged mid-day robbery attack by unknown hoodlums who invaded the campus through the Eagle Island axis.
An eyewitness said that two students of Urban and Regional Planning in the Architecture Department were shot by the hoodlums during the robbery attack for not complying with the robbers’ directive.
The eyewitness explained that the two students were shot in their legs, and were later rushed to an undisclosed hospital in Port Harcourt.
The source further said that the hoodlums, numbering about six, were armed with guns, cutlasses and other sharp objects, adding that they got entry to the university campus through the Eagle Island gate.
According to the source, the incident occurred at the Department of Architecture during one of the early morning lectures, adding that many students were robbed of their monies, personal effects and other valuables, while some sustained injuries.
It was gathered that the robbery attack immediately sparked-off students’ protest within the campus, which put on hold all academic activities as well as other social businesses within the university campus.
Some of student victims, who spoke with The Tide, condition of anonymity, called for adequate security to be beefed-up in the institution to guarantee the sight of students.
The students alleged that the incident has become a recurring decimal in the university campus, adding that students now live in palpable fear, especially during the lecture periods.
“These hoodlums jumped into the school through the Eagle Island axis and attacked our students of Urban and Regional Planning in the Architecture Department while they were waiting for lectures. These attacks have become a continuous one; they came with cutlasses and guns to attack our students. Two of our colleagues were shot on their legs because they refused to surrender their monies to the hoodlums.
“Each time these hoodlums strike, we lose our laptops, cash, and personal effects. Please, enough is enough, security should be beefed-up, and we have been calling for this but without any solution. This is the reason we are protesting today to put to an end this nonsense”.
The students, however, appealed to the state government and management of the university to provide adequate security within and outside the campus in other to forestall the reoccurrence of robbery attacks in the university.
Our correspondent, who witnessed the protest, reports that motorists plying the campus route were affected as the roads were blocked while the university’s security was on red alert to check any possible break down of law and order in the school.
Efforts to contact the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University (RSU), Prof. Blessing Didia or the institution’s spokesperson, proved abortive as at the time of filling this report but as an officer in the Information Unit of the VC’s office, told our correspondent that the VC was in a council meeting over the matter.
Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, has called on Nigerians to reject silence in the face of extrajudicial killings and other abuses of human rights.
Soyinka stressed that accountability and civic courage remain essential to rebuilding public confidence in the nation’s institutions.
He made the call during the 28th Wole Soyinka Lecture held in Port Harcourt, last Friday as part of activities marking his 92nd birthday.
The lecture, themed “Reclaiming the Nigerian State through Accountability, Justice and Civic Courage,” drew participants from different sectors of society.
The renowned playwright and human rights advocate said the country’s greatest tragedy was not only the unlawful killings carried out by state and non-state actors, but also the silence that often follows such incidents, allowing perpetrators to evade justice.
According to him, indifference by citizens to abuses of power and violations of fundamental human rights has contributed to the persistence of extrajudicial killings and other forms of injustice across the country.
Soyinka said he dedicated this year’s lecture to victims of unlawful killings, noting that the event was intended to honour individuals who had lost their lives as a result of failures within the justice system and society’s inability to protect the sanctity of human life.
He stressed that the lecture was dedicated to what he described as the basic unit of every society – the human being, and urged Nigerians to place greater value on human dignity irrespective of ethnicity, religion or social status.
The Nobel Laureate recalled several incidents of violence, including the fatal shooting and killing of a young man in Ugheli in Delta State by a police officer, and the mob killing of Deborah Yakubu in Sokoto State sometime ago, lamenting that many of those responsible are yet to face justice.
He expressed concern that some perpetrators of violent crimes had openly admitted their actions without fear of prosecution, describing such situations as evidence of serious failures within the nation’s justice system.
Soyinka maintained that when justice is delayed or denied, public confidence in state institutions continues to erode, thereby encouraging further violations of human rights.
Responding to critics who accuse him of promoting religious or ethnic divisions whenever he spoke on such issues, Soyinka dismissed the allegations and pointed out that his advocacy has always centred on the protection of human life and the rule of law.
He urged Nigerians to remain vigilant and continue demanding justice in cases of alleged extrajudicial killings, including the recent shooting of a young man by a police officer, stressing that every life deserves equal protection under the law.
The literary icon also recalled an earlier pledge by a past incoming president to make public the files relating to unresolved assassinations and extrajudicial killings, questioning the status of the promised investigations.
He challenged citizens to continue asking questions about unresolved cases, insisting that justice, accountability and respect for human dignity are indispensable to building a peaceful, democratic and inclusive Nigerian society.
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has clarified that there was no fire at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, contrary to its earlier advisory.
Earlier yesterday, FAAN had announced that a fire incident had occurred at Terminal 2 of the nation’s busiest airport, and assured that its Aerodrome Rescue and Firefighting Service had been deployed to contain the situation.
There were also reports that activities were briefly disrupted at the airport yesterday after smoke was seen inside parts of the terminal.
Videos circulating online showed passengers kept standing outside the terminal while firefighters responded to the incident.
However, in an update issued less than two hours later by the Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection, Henry Agbebire, and posted on FAAN’s official X handle, the authority said preliminary findings showed that the smoke seen at the terminal was caused by the discharge of the facility’s FM-200 fire suppression system.
“Further to our earlier advisory regarding the incident at Terminal 2 of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) wishes to provide the following update,” the statement read.
“Preliminary findings indicate that there was no fire at the terminal. The smoke observed within the affected area resulted from the discharge of the terminal’s FM-200 fire suppression system. The reason for the activation of the fire suppression system is currently being investigated,” FAAN stated.
The authority said normal operations had resumed at the terminal while investigations were ongoing to determine the cause of the incident.
“Normal operations have since resumed at the terminal, while detailed investigations are ongoing to determine the exact cause of the incident,” the statement added.
The authority thanked passengers, airlines, airport users and other stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation.
FAAN appreciated the understanding and cooperation of passengers, airlines, airport users and all stakeholders, and reiterated its commitment to the safety and security of all airport operations.