Port Harcourt — December 2, 2025 | Dalena Reporters
Unknown gunmen, widely believed to be members of a cult group, abducted five students of Rivers State University (RSU) from an off-campus residence in the early hours of Tuesday, triggering a police manhunt and fresh fear among students and residents of the Emohua Local Government Area.
According to eyewitness testimony, the assailants stormed the residence — an isolated area rented by students near the Emohua satellite campus — at approximately 2:00 a.m. Security was swiftly neutralized, with the gunmen reportedly killing the security dog to eliminate warning signs before forcibly removing the victims. One student who narrowly escaped described a chaotic scene of gunshots and panic, saying she was chased and only escaped by fleeing to the gate in the darkness.
The victims’ abduction comes days after RSU students residing off-campus had protested repeated attacks and harassment by suspected cultists, and called on the university management to relocate them to the main Port Harcourt campus for their protection. The school’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Isaac Zeb-Obipi, had previously rejected relocation demands, citing efforts being made through community and security agency engagements to improve safety.
The Rivers State Police Command, through spokesperson Grace Iringe-Koko, confirmed the abduction, identifying the perpetrators as cultists, and announced that tactical units have been deployed in a bid to secure the students’ release and arrest those responsible.
As of press time, the abducted students remain missing and the police manhunt continues. The incident has reignited concerns over student safety, hostel security, and the adequacy of protection for off-campus residents in Rivers State University communities.