On the heels of the suspected armed-robbery attack on two female hostels of the Rivers State University (RSU),Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the institution, Prof Nlerum Okogbule has assured that such ugly incident shall not happen again, stressing that the perpetrators will be brought to book.
The VC disclosed this on Friday in Port Harcourt, while briefing the press on the incident and extent the Management has gone to prevent the reoccurrence.
The VC was emphatic that no student was raped in the process, but admitted that phones, laptops and monies belonging to the affected students were stolen by the mindless hoodlums, after inflicting bodily injuries on some of the innocent students, who tried to resist them.
Prof Okogbule equally told journalists that the University Management has resolved to assist the students to replace their stolen properties, especially the phones and laptops.
He also pointed out that the injured have been treated.
According to him, “Nobody, I repeat nobody was raped during the attack, yes the hoodlums who came in through the laundry side stole the students’ phones, laptops and monies,but no-one was raped.”
The VC said preliminary investigation has reviewed that none of the students was sexually assaulted. Though the School has set up a 9-man investigative committee to thoroughly look into the matter, with a view to ascertaining the immediate and remote causes of the incident, assuring that the culprits will not be spared.
“Since three years the campus has been peaceful, so this incident is an isolated case and the management has taken active steps to forestall its reoccurrence. The incident wouldn’t have been possible without an insider, so we have constituted a 9-man committee to unravel the circumstances surrounding the attack. The management has also taken note of the losses recorded by the affected students and shall do something about it,” the VC added.
Prof Okogbule said the Governor, Sir Siminalayi Fubara visited the University on Thursday and also promised that the perpetrators must be brought to book.
He reiterated that security within and around the campus shall be beefed up to prevent repitition of the ugly incident.
Also speaking, the Registrar of the University, Dr Sydney Enyinda lauded the VC and Management of the University for taking proactive measures to forestall a reoccurrence of the attack.
He appealed to the media and everybody to support the VC and Management of RSU to sustain the enviable height the university has attained.
Adding his voice to the subject matter,the Director-General (DG) of New Rivers Vision, Youths and Students wing, Hon. (Comrd) Chimzim Ihunwo said the VC, Prof Nlerum Okogbule has repositioned the Rivers State University, since he assumed office as the VC of the school.
He urged all and sundry to give him the required support to consolidate on his achievements.
Meanwhile, the Commissioner of Police Rivers State. Command, Nwonyi Emeka has given a marching order to the Area Command and Divisional Police Officer (DPO), Nkpolu to beef up security around the area where the university is located and ensure that the perpetrators of that dastardly act are arrested and prosecuted.
