Abia Govt Denies Varsity Gang Rape

Chief Don Ubani, Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Abia has described as a ‘ruse’ the video clip of a gang rape which allegedly took place at Abia State University.

A News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) correspondent who watched the video clip posted on the internet since August 16, reports that it shows five young men having intercourse in a barbaric manner with a lady.

Voices from the video claimed that the incident took place at Abia State University and that both the people involved were students of the university.

But Ubani told NAN in Umuahia that “the issue of gang rape in Abia State University is a mere ruse, such a thing did not happen.”

“I am not aware that such incident occurred anywhere in Abia, but I am aware of the speculation. We have communicated with the Vice-Chancellor of ABSU, Professor Chibuzor Ogbuagu and he told us that after thorough investigations into the matter, it was clear that such did not happen in the school.”

The Commissioner, who described the Internet as very wonderful device in modern communication, said the facility has its advantages and disadvantages.

“On the disadvantages, people hide under the cloak of the Internet to wreak havoc based on falsehood.

“In this case, a picture of nude unidentifiable men and an unidentified girl that is nude could be made up and whoever has such malicious motive could fly it around and could also identify it with a chosen background.

“I want to say categorically that Abia State University had no such case of gang rape and the school is known for very high discipline. It is a properly coordinated, well managed institution and the students here are people we can be proud of.”

The commissioner said the state was not bothered with the speculation, adding that the story had no basis and was yet to be reported to the police in the state.

Some residents of Umuahia who reacted to the matter told NAN that there was need for government to adequately investigate it, to save the image of the state and the university.

“Abia state government should not just dismiss the story as falsehood. Let there be full scale investigation to unravel the real issue on the rape video,” Messrs. Joy Ibeme and Onyekachi Godwin said.