Explosion Rocks Rivers University, Registrar’s Office Damaged

Explosion rocked the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, RSUST, at about 7.40 p.m. last night, causing extensive damage to the office of the Registrar, Constance Odimabo.

No death or injury was recorded in the incident as the university was virtually shut due to the nationwide strike.

According to eyewitness account, the explosion may have been caused by locally assembled explosive device.

Ben Ugwuegbulem, the Rivers State Police Public Relations Officer in a statement said “on 11 January at about 1940hrs, Commissioner of Police Rivers detailed Police EOD team of the command to proceed to the office of the Vice Chancellor of the Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Port Harcourt in response to a reported incident of suspected explosion in the office of the Vice-Chancellor.”

According to him, “the Explosive Ordinance Department team arrived at the scene at about 8pm yesterday and commenced post-blast investigation at the already cordoned scene. That continued till this morning when at about 0930hrs investigation did not recover any pieces of evidence indicating the use of Improvised Explosive Device IED”.

Ugwuegbulem said what the police found out was that ” a fire started by electrical device serving office refrigerator. The fire was earlier put off by the campus security”.

He claimed that no injury or serious damage was recorded as investigation continues.

However, all attempts to get the reaction of Professor Barinua Fakae, the Vice-Chancellor of the university were futile.

Contrary to the position of the police, sources told P.M.NEWS that it was actually an explosive device that was thrown into the office of the registrar by unidentified persons.

—Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt