13th June, 2024
By Okafor Ofiebor/Port Harcourt
Some students of Rivers State University on Thursday protested against alleged involvement in human rights abuses by some personnel of Man ‘O’ War in the institution.
The protest, it was gathered was as a result of an assault meted out to one Victor Tobin, a 300-level Student of the Sociology Department of the Faculty of Social Science of the schools by an operative of Man ‘O’ War on Wednesday.
The assault reportedly resulted in serious injuries to the eye of the student.
It was also learned that the student walked on the pavement at the Man ‘O’ War office located at Hostel F and this made some of the personnel of the organisation to assault him.
Some of the protesters demanded the disbandment of the institution’s Man ‘O’ War over gross human rights abuses.
The Police were drafted to the scene to prevent any breakdown of law and order.
In a chat with our reporter, the President of Student Union Government(SUG) of the institution, Comrade Omubo-Pepple Abinye 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 I understand the frustration of my students that protested today.
“I expressed my displeasure to the Vice Chancellor last night and he immediately set up a meeting with management, SUG and 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, Director of Student Affairs and VC all addressed the students and the VC assured the students that a decision will be reached tomorrow morning in a meeting. Our peaceful student eventually dispersed back to their respective classrooms”.
The SUG president assured that the justice will be done on the matter.
Meanwhile, the Commandant of Man ‘O’ War in RSU, Horsfall denied allegations of human rights abuse against his personnel.
SP Grace Iringe-Koko, Spokesperson of the Rivers State Police Command promised to comment on the issue after getting detailed briefing on the situation.