Hundreds of students of Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt staged a protest on Thursday over alleged brutalisation of their colleague by officials of the Man ‘O’ War in the institution.
It was not clear what the offence of the 300-level student of Sociology identified as Victor Tobin was, but it was gathered that he had walked on the pavement of the Man ‘O’ War office located near Hostel F on the campus on Wednesday morning which angered some of the personnel.
According Online gathered that while the undergraduate asked what his offence was, they continued beating him and inflicted injuries on the student leading to a cut and swollen right eye.
On Thursday morning, the news of the battering of the student spread around the campus and immediately, his colleagues, gathered at the Man O War office to demand why Tobin was subjected to such human rights abuse, leading to a protest.
The protesting students said they would not stay and watch any of their colleagues manhandled for any reason and demanded the immediate disbandment of the local security outfit in the institution over what they termed as gross human rights abuses.
One of the students who did not mention his name said, “This is a university and we are adults. If they feel that our colleague has committed any offence, the right thing to do so is to take him to the appropriate authority in the school or hand him over to the police.
“But subjecting him to such inhuman treatment is unacceptable. That is why we are protesting and we demand that the so-called Man ‘O’ War in RSU should be disbanded immediately. We will not tolerate them anymore.”
The protest was said to have disrupted a meeting of the university’s management and the Students’ Union Government over the issue, as the students allegedly threatened to attack the personnel if they didn’t leave the campus.
According Online observed that the protest assumed a fever pitch as the students attempted to attack the Man O War personnel before policemen who arrived at the scene quelled the situation and successfully prevented a breakdown of law and order.
Speaking with newsmen, the President of the Student Union, Abinye Pepple, said he got wind of the incident through one of the students and condemned the action of the Man O War,
Pepple said, “Firstly, I have to express my complete displeasure with the Man O War for carrying out that brutal act on one of my students and understand the frustration of my students that protested today.
“I also called the Vice Chancellor last night and expressed my displeasure and he immediately set up a meeting with management, SUG and the Man ‘O’ War so we can have a fair hearing on the matter and a decision can be taken on the Man O War on campus.
“That meeting was abruptly halted when we got wind of the protest and had to rush down there to restore order to our peaceful and loving students who were simply displeased with the act carried out on one of their own.
“Myself and the VC addressed the students and the VC assured the students that a decision will be made tomorrow (Friday) morning in another meeting that has been scheduled. Our peaceful students eventually dispersed back to their respective classrooms and calm has been restored.”
While noting that though the claims of the Man O War contradicted the story of the brutalised student, he said the VC had intervened, saying, “As a father to us and as responsible students, we await his decision after the meeting on Friday.”
Meanwhile, the Acting Registrar of the institution, Mrs. I. B. S. Harry, in a statement on Thursday confirmed the attack on the student, saying management had convened an emergency meeting with the students’ leadership and the accused personnel to get to the root of the matter.
Harry corroborated the views of the SUG President that normalcy has been restored, adding that lectures are ongoing and assured parents and guardians that the matter was receiving adequate attention.
The statement read, “This is to inform parents and the general public that on Wednesday, 12th June, 2024, there was a misunderstanding between some students and members of the Man O’ War at Hostel F in the Rivers State University, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, Port Harcourt, which resulted in physical injury on a student on campus.
“In order to resolve the misunderstanding and avert further action, the university Management promptly held an emergency meeting on Thursday 13th June, 2024 with the Executives of the Students Union Government and the Man O’ War, to ascertain the remote and immediate causes of the problem.
“The university management intends to hold another meeting tomorrow, Friday, 14th June 2024 to meet with those involved, but were not present at today’s meeting to finally resolve the issue.
“We assure parents and guardians that the matter has been brought under control and lectures are ongoing. Students are therefore advised to go about their lawful activities on Campus.”
When contacted, the spokesperson for the state police command, Grace Iringe-Koko, said she was yet to get an official report on the incident from the Divisional Police Officer.
When According Online called her a second time, she promised to give feedback but had yet to do so as of the time of filing this report on Thursday evening.
